A protection structure for a surge absorbing element for protecting equipment such as communications lines from surges caused by lightning or the like which makes use of a surge absorbing element in parallel with the equipment to be protected and a low melting point metal wire in direct contact with the element and in series therewith. The structure protects the surge absorbing element or assembly from continuous overvoltage or overcurrent which may be generated by a short-circuit of an alternating electric current source and the like.