February 19, 2016 - EARTH - Here are two of the latest reports of deadly lightning strikes across planet Earth.
Lightning kills four in Harding, South Africa
Four people have died and 20 others sustained injuries when storms and
lightning caused havoc at Harding in southern KwaZulu-Natal Thursday.
Provincial Emergency Medical Services spokesperson Robert McKenzie says
the four died in hospital after they had been struck by lightning.
He says all the injured were treated at the scene before being transported to hospital for medical care.
The storm left houses destroyed and roofs being blown. -
SABC News.
Lightning kills another 3 people in South Africa; total of 10 in a week
Three more people have died in lightning strikes in KwaZulu-Natal,
bringing to 10 the number of people killed in one week, the provincial co-operative governance and traditional affairs department said on Saturday.
"With the province of KwaZulu-Natal still licking its wounds after seven
people lost their lives in the area of KwaMachi near Harding in the
Umuziwabantu local municipality, another tragedy has struck as more
lightning, hail, and storms have hit the neighbouring uMzimkhulu
municipality
killing three more people and injuring dozens of others as well as damaging homes," MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube said.
In wards 14 and 18 in uMzimkhulu municipality more than 80 household
were affected by storms. A team of disaster management personnel led by
the local mayor Mphuthumi Mpabanga had been undertaking door-to-door
visits to all the affected families and providing first-line support,
she said.
Dube-Ncube extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved
families. She had ordered that more lighting conductors be provided to
the affected areas and also sent additional disaster management teams in
support.
"We wish to assure the public that they are not facing these natural
disasters without a helping hand from the provincial government. We are
deeply saddened by this latest tragedy which happened barely a day after
we were still trying to come to terms with the double tragedy of
KwaMachi in Harding. We reiterate our call to the public, particularly
in the rural areas, to exercise caution as we are in the middle of the
summer season when incidents of this nature tend to occur most
frequently," she said.
"We will continue to experience such unpredictable weather conditions as
a result of climate change. Unfortunately, these are acts of nature and
they are beyond our control. Our duty, however, is to be on alert and
minimise the loss of life. Our disaster management centres are always on
standby.
"We are doing everything possible to support the affected families; our
disaster management teams remain on the scene at uMzimkhulu and KwaMachi
to provide assistance to all affected members of the community,"
Dube-Ncube said. -
IOL.
7 Killed And 9 Injured Due To Lightning Strike In Pakistan
Four women among seven people from the same family were killed in
devastating lightning strike a double-storey house at Khushab's Purana
Chowk here on Saturday, Radio Pakistan reported.
As per media reports, the ill-fated house's roof collapsed when
lightning hit it badly and upon this all the family members trapped
under the rubble. As result, seven people including four women and two
children died in the mishap whereas nine others sustained severe wounds
and were shifted to hospital, rescue official said.
The deceased have been identified as Umar Daraz, his wife Razia,
eight-year-old Kinza, 15-year-old Farooq, 10-year-old Abdul Rauf,
13-year-old Sobia, seven-year-old Nauman and 17-year-old Sonia.
-
Daily Pakistan.
