A freak accident in Japan resulted in a moving train being hit by a bolt of lightning that was generated during a thunderstorm. Fortunately, no one was injured. The incident happened on 12 August, at 7pm local time.

[For Representative Purposes] The New York Times building is struck by lightning, on 10 June, 2008

The train, pulled by an electric engine, was crossing the Tamagawa River when the incident happened. The rail line the train was on was between the Noborito Station and the Izumi-Tamagawa Station.

It appears a man filming the storm from his apartment overlooking the crossing captured the incident on camera. The train and tracks (both metal) were obviously perfect conductors and the fact it was crossing a large body of water at the time did not help matters.

The video shows a massive bolt of lightning hitting what appears to be the second or third coach after the engine. There are fiery sparks that erupt immediately after and the train rolls to a stop.

Interestingly, only seconds before this train was hit an earlier one passed across the bridge unscathed. Ominously though, in the interval between the two trains passing, a similarly massive bolt of lightning appears over what is presumably the railway station [to the left of the observer].

According to the Telegraph, the train temporarily lost power and passengers said they had to wait in the dark while the power came back on. A report by Rocket News 24 says the Odakyu Electric Railway Company actually suspended other trains earlier in the day because of inclement weather.

Check out a video of a bolt of lightning hitting the Japanese train [the direct hit is at the 1:20 mark]

[Video Courtesy: YouTube/tiredlaughter]

Japan Storm