BACOLOD City – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division (PDRRMD) in Negros Occidental warned locals over fatal lightning strikes.
The PDRRMD issued a public advisory instructing Negrenses to stay indoors during heavy downpours.
If already outdoors, one must stay away from open fields, the PDRRMD said.
Records from the PDRRMD showed that there were already 11 deaths due to lightning strikes in Negros Occidental in a span of two months.
These are on top of 35 cases of injured individuals in the same period.
Just last Friday, four people were killed while four others were hurt after lighting struck them in Barangay Don Salvador Benedicto, Pontevedra town.
It was raining, so the victims took shelter inside a nipa hut in the middle of Hacienda Carmen, a sugarcane plantation in the village. That was when lightning hit them around 3:30 p.m.
Two weeks ago, a man also died after lighting struck him while he was on his way home in Barangay Andres Bonifacio, Cadiz City.
In the same week, 11 people – mostly minors – have been injured after lighting hit near a chapel in Barangay Ma-ao, Bago City.
According to the PDRRMD, the deadliest lightning incident was reported in Barangay Manlucahoc, Sipalay City last April 18 – six individuals were killed and 17 others were injured./PN
