Several cattle killed by single bolt of lightning in Austria

A bolt of lightning has reportedly killed 17 cows and calves that huddled under a tree to escape a rainstorm in Austria.

State broadcaster ORF quoted herdsman Georg Buchegger as saying only one of the 18 animals that sought shelter survived and was uninjured.

Its website showed the cadavers strewn under the tree.

The storm struck on Saturday over the alpine pasture near the town of Strobl, east of Salzburg.