Uganda
A refugee camp in mourning.
Victims of lighting strike in Palabek settlement camp northern Uganda were buried on Sunday (Nov. 03).
They had gathered to pray when the rain started around 5:00 PM Saturday, and the lightning thunder struck half an hour later.
Police identified 14 victims, amongst whom 8 males.
Deadly lightning is commonly reported in Uganda during the wet season.
"From the figures we identified; we had 14 mortalities. And these are people who died on the spot and the age group of 9 to 21, the youngest being a 9-year-old girl, then the eldest being a 21-year-old male.”
Police investigations revealed an absence of anti-lightning infrastructure.
Victims were attending a prayer service in a makeshift metallic structure when the lighting struck.
The deceased are reportedly from neighboring South Sudan.
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