BACOLOD City – Six people died while several others were injured when lightning struck Sitio Barasbaras, Barangay Manlucahoc, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.
Mostly sugarcane field workers, the victims were seeking shelter from the rain underneath a cargo truck parked under a tree, said Chief Inspector Nazer Canja, Sipalay police officer-in-charge.
Police identified the casualties as Charlene Seminion, 12; Rose Ann Seminion, 4; Mary Ann Seminion, 10; Arvin Neil Seminion, 10; Mariel Montesino, 12; and Mary Tihok, 35.
Attending physicians at the Sipalay City Health Clinic pronounced them “dead on arrival.”
The incident happened at around 1:53 p.m. on Wednesday.
The wounded were Erick Mark Seminion, 12; Romila Seminion, 13; Aira Seminion, 2; Alvin Roy Seminion; George Seminion; Lolina Seminion; Wilma Fe Seminion, 9; Roy Balansac, 12; Alma Seminion; Ronaly Seminion; Nelson Sipaway; Ryan Seminion; Nia Seminion; Ryan Balansac; and Wilma Montesino.
Ziff Japheth Olac of the Sipalay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said they responded to the area and gave medical attention to the other victims.
Nine were taken to the Merceditas J. Montilla District Hospital, also in Sipalay. One of them, Lolina Seminion, was described as “critical” and moved to a hospital in this capital city./PN
