Are We Safe from Lightning Inside Buildings? - A Study of Lightning Fatalities Inside Buildings Using Smartphones

Deaths caused by lightning are infrequent compared to other accidents of electrical origin (fires and electric shocks at industrial frequencies of 50/60 Hz). Deaths from lightning strikes inside buildings are even more challenging to occur. However, in Brazil, which has been the global leader in the number of lightning strikes, there has been a substantial increase in cases of electric shock caused by lightning, particularly involving victims using electronic devices, most notably smartphones. This study, therefore, presents an analysis of five cases of death caused by lightning, with victims using a smartphone connected to the mains at the time of the accident. Subsequently, a simulation is presented, built on the analysis of the five reported fatalities. The victim is subjected to a typical lightning current (directly striking an electricity distribution line). The victim was using a recharging smartphone directly connected to the socket. A high-frequency human body model was used in the simulations using the Electromagnetic Transients Program (EMTP) software. Based on the results of this study, there is an indication that damage to internal tissues can occur due to the circulation of an intense electric current, which can cause the death of victims.