Later that night rain pounds fiercely on the wide leaves of the palms outside my window and lightning flashes perilously close to the Buddhist temple next door.

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Lightning-like flashes from exploding electrical transformers punctuated the night, often followed by the wail of emergency vehicles' sirens.

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Most experts estimate that lightning strikes over Catatumbo roughly 140 to 160 nights a year, with flashes often visible seven to 10 hours per night.

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