Four dead after lightning strike on Brazilian beach

Storms have ravaged Brazil's populous south east coast area over the last few days

A view of Praia Grande, São Paulo area, Brazil (Wikimedia Commons / Andressa Rafaela)

Four people have died and another four have been injured after a lightning strike on a beach in Brazil.

A violent storm suddenly rolled in on the beach at Praia Grande, catching the beachgoers unaware.

Storms had ravaged Brazil’s south eastern coast over the last week, hitting the Sao Paulo area particularly hard.

In the early hours of yesterday trees were downed by weather, cutting off public transport connections and disabling traffic lights.

Winds of up to 100kmph also blew over lamp posts and electricity pylons.

Local media reports firefighters as identifying the deceased as a pregnant woman, her husband, her aunt, and her uncle.

The incident took place near the city of Santos, a busy port that mainly serves nearby Sao Paulo.

Santos police told the Associated Press news agency that they did not know the condition of those who had been injured.