Men killed in lightning strikes

By BRADLEY MARIORI
TWO men were killed in separate lightning strikes in Finschhafen, Morobe, last week, a community leader says.
Community leader Kay Takiseng said two villages in the Hube local level government were affected by the lightning.
He said seven people were also injured.
Takiseng said a young man from Naiaro village, was struck while he was trying to light a smoke.
The other was from Tireng village, and died on the spot.
He said both incidents happened at around the same time when the lightning struck in relatively fine weather.
Takiseng said the seven injured people – six men and a woman – who were knocked unconscious and also had difficulty seeing afterward.
“When the lightning struck them, the woman struggled and got up after some minutes, but she could not see anything as her eyes were totally blind,” he said.
“I arranged for a helicopter to transport them to Butaweng, where they are currently receiving treatment. But they still cannot see properly.”
Takiseng said the bodies of the two dead men were buried shortly after the incident.
He said the injured people also suffered burns and bruising to their bodies but were recovering at Butaweng health centre.
He urged people in the community to take precautions.