Storms cause statewide blackouts

Storms cause statewide blackouts : "As well as strong winds and rain the storms caused an estimated 43,000 lightning strikes across the state in the 12 hours to 9am (CST) this morning, ETSA said."

43,000 lightning strikes? Where is the lightning counter? How do you get the count going? 43,000? That is a LOT of lightning strikes or am I wrong? The Yorke and Eyre Peninsulas had blackouts and we well and truly had storms last night. No one complained because we need the rain. We so need the rain. Our gardens are starting to recover and the hills are green all of a sudden. I hate it when the Adelaide Hills are all brown and crispy.The storms went on for quite a while and disturbed our sleep...partly because we are not used to having rain and partly because the thunder was so loud!