The Billy Lids

Two of nature’s most spectacular forces produced an incredible show in the skies of Chile as a volcanic eruption met a lightning storm in May this year.

Tonnes of dust and ash from the eruption of the Chaiten volcano poured into the night sky just as an electric storm was passing overhead.

The resulting collision created an extraordinary sight as lightning flickered around the dust cloud in the fiery, orange glow of the volcano.

Images attributed to Carlos Gutierrez/UPI

References:

Earth and sky in battle above volcano

5,000 evacuated as volcano blast meets storm in the Chilean sky

Amazing pictures: The lightning storm that engulfed an erupting volcano