Repairs begin on Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue

Lightning flashes over the statue of Christ the Redeemer on top of the Corcovado hill in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo / AFP

Repairs have begun on Brazil's Christ the Redeemer statue after lightning damaged the 125 ft (38 metre) statue's head, right finger and thumb.

The iconic statue of Christ overlooking Rio de Janeiro was struck again last week during a violent storm, damaging its right thumb.

The middle finger of the right hand and a spot on its head had also been chipped during a storm last month. It is often hit by lightning because of its position atop a steep mountain.

Officials say they will place more lightning rods on the statue in an effort to prevent future damage. It remains open to tourists while work is carried out, which is expected to take approximately four months.

The monument was built between 1922 and 1931 atop the Corcovado mountain and is considered to be the largest Art Deco style statue in the world.

It underwent a $4 million renovation in 2010 to repair badly eroded parts of its face and hands.

The statue also suffered damage in April 2010 when the arms head and chest were covered in spray painted graffiti, in an act Rio's mayor described as a "crime against the nation". The perpetrators used the scaffolding erected during the renovation to scale the statue and vandalise it.

- UK Independent