Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

And even if I am not in the direct discharge path, the induced overvoltage can have interesting effects. For instance, there was this stereo. Sitting quietly in the corner, turned off and all. The thunderstrom was a good ways off, several kilometers to the closest strike. Then there was a flash inside the room, and music rolling out from the speakers.

The lightning had not even struck the utility line. It was just an induced overvoltage. Not enough to do much damage, but it did weld the contacts of the mains switch in the stereo permanently "on".