Wednesday, 24 June 2009

Lightning kills 103 Cambodians in less than 6 months+

Jun 23, 2009

PHNOM PENH, June 23 (AP) - (Kyodo)—At least 103 Cambodians have been killed by lightning in less than six months this year, a senior government official said Tuesday.

Ly Thuch, senior minister and second vice president of Cambodia's National Committee for Disaster Management, told Kyodo News that since early this year, 103 Cambodians, mostly in rural areas, have died after being struck by lightning.

He blamed changes in climate as the main causes of the incidents, but acknowledged the victims might also have had little or no education and information about the dangers of lightning. "The Royal Government is surprised, concerned and sorry to those who were killed by lightning" Ly Thuch said.

He said lightning killed about 80 Cambodians last year and just 45 in 2007.

Lightning normally strikes during the rainy season from May through October.

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