Casualties as lightning strikes, razes family house midnight

Four people from the same family were killed by lightning on Lake Victoria’s Bumbile Island in Tanzania’s Northwestern District of Muleba in Kagera Region, an official said on Friday.

A primary school in the country was struck in an early morning downpour, killing six pupils, and injuring 25.

A similar incident in 2015 in Easter region saw four school kids killed along with their teacher.

After the Friday incident, Muleba District Commissioner, Thoba Nguvilla told a news conference that the family were hit by the lightning while they were asleep on Thursday night.

He said that the victims were a couple and their two children.
The official said the deceased family was engaged in farming and fishing on the island.

Robert Musiibha, chairman of Bulyo village in the area, said the house of the victims, which was roofed by iron sheets, was razed to the ground in the lightning strike. (Xinhua)