Rotorua property struck by lightning

Heather Lilly was at home this afternoon when "stuff went flying everywhere".

Her Ōwhata property had been struck by lightning.

"I saw the flash and the bang was just indescribable.

"Stuff went flying everywhere, I don't know if I was hit. I quickly got the cell phone and rang my husband and then I rang my daughter.

The fire service is attending a house struck by lightning in Duggan Drive. Photo / Ben Fraser

"It seemed to come from nowhere," Lilly said.

The lightning strike made a hole in the concrete, damaged a tree, destroyed pots and blew dirt and grass up under the house.

Neighbour Debbie McLeod said she was at the back of her house.

Heather Lilly looks at the damage in her Duggan Drive property caused by a lightning strike on Thursday. Photo / Ben Fraser

"I heard lots of thunder and there was this huge big bang and I thought 'Jesus'," she said.

The fire service was called to the scene just before 2pm.

The fire service is attending a house struck by lightning in Duggan Drive. Photo / Ben Fraser

A MetService spokesman confirmed there were 78 lightning strikes in the Rotorua area between 12pm and 2pm.

He said between the hours of 1pm and 2pm 18.2mm of rain was measured at the airport.

The fire service is attending a house struck by lightning in Duggan Drive. Photo / Ben Fraser