Disasters & Accidents

13 dead as lightning strikes wedding party in Bangladesh

Dhaka, Aug 4 (EFE).- At least 13 people were killed on Wednesday as lightning struck a boat carrying people to a wedding on the Padma river in northern Bangladesh, according to the authorities.

Chapainawabganj district administration head Manjurul Hafiz told EFE the incident occurred around noon in the remote Shibganj area, and that the boat was carrying some 15-16 people.

“It was far from the district headquarters. When our people reached the spot, we found 13 bodies,” Hafiz said.

He added that several others in the boat had been taken by the locals and other relatives for treatment. “We are not sure if they are dead or alive.”

“The boat did not sink and all the victims were killed by lightning strike,” the official underlined.

According to the nonprofit Foundation for Disaster Forum, at least 255 people – 54 children, 34 women and 167 men – have been killed by lightning strikes in Bangladesh so far this year.

Most of these deaths occurred in the months of May and June, which accounted for 120 and 107 deaths, respectively.

Bangladesh classified lightning strikes a natural disaster in 2016 when, according to government estimate, over 200 people died in the month of May alone, including 82 people on a single day. EFE

am/sc

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