Powerful lightning strike kills 14 cows in an instant

Fourteen cows were killed in an instant by a powerful lightning strike.

Shocking images show the carcasses scattered across the grass beneath a tree.

The horror unfolded on the night of 28 May, as a heavy storm swept through the area.

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Torrential rain was falling at the time, accompanied by intense electrical activity.

One lightning bolt struck close to the tree where the cattle had been sheltering in a rural area near Pichucalco, in Mexico’s Chiapas state.

The 14 animals, all belonging to a single farmer, are believed to have died instantly, as reported by Need To Know.

Specialists later confirmed that the cause of death was electrocution triggered by the lightning strike.

As a livestock producer, the farmer is covered by a free climate-related insurance scheme and a compensation process is now reportedly underway.

In Casalattico, Italy, in May 2025, a similar tragedy saw 33 horses killed after being struck by lightning.

The adults and foals are believed to have taken shelter beneath beech trees as the storm rolled in, unknowingly sealing their fate.

Alongside the herd, birds of prey – likely griffon vultures – were also found among the carcasses.

The animals’ burnt legs suggested that rainwater on the ground may have carried the electrical current.

Casalattico mayor Francesco Di Lucia said at the time: “Sadly, this was a catastrophe caused by nature itself.

“It’s at least some small comfort that human cruelty has been ruled out.”

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