Four killed same day in separate Arakan State lightning strikes

By Admin 17 Jun 2023

DMG Newsroom
17 June 2023, Ponnagyun

Four people — three men and one woman — were struck dead and one woman was seriously injured by lightning in Arakan State’s Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw and Mrauk-U townships on June 16.

The deceased victims were Ko Maung Lone Chay, 27, from Onedee Village and Ma Khaing Zar Nay Win, 29, from Minzechaung Village in Ponnagyun Township; Maung Ye Gyi Aung, 18, from Panmyaung Village in Minbya Township and U Aye Thein Tun, 45, from Thungetaw Village in Mrauk-U Township.

The woman injured by lightning has been identified as Daw Shwe Mya Sein, 43, from Aungzeya Village in Kyauktaw Township, and she is reportedly receiving medical treatment.

Ma Khaing Zay Nay Win and Maung Ye Gyi Aung were reportedly struck dead by lightning on their way back home from farmlands after ploughing at around 4 p.m., said U Kyaw Thein, an uncle of Ma Khaing Zar Nay Win.

“Ma Khaing Zay Nay Win is Maung Ye Gyi Aung’s sister-in-law. Maung Ye Gyi Aung helps his sister-in-law’s farmland plough as his brother works in Malaysia. The two were struck dead by lightning when they returned to the village from the farmland at about 4:30 p.m.,” he explained.

The bodies of the two deceased were buried on Saturday and Ma Khaing Zar Nay Win leaves behind a 2-year-old daughter.

Ko Maung Lone Chay was struck dead by lightning while preparing to plough his farmland, said Ma Khin Myat Wai, a local woman. 

U Aye Thein Tun was struck dead by lightning while he was searching for crabs in a creek near his farmland at around 4 p.m., according to local villagers.

Daw Shwe Mya Sein, who was injured by lightning while working on her farm, received burn injuries to her face, chest and thighs, and is being treated at a public hospital in Kyauktaw, according to family members.

“She regained consciousness this morning and can now drink water. It can be said that her condition has improved a lot since yesterday,” said Ma Myint Myint Aye, daughter of Daw Shwe Mya Sein.

The latest lethal lightning strikes have many farmers spooked.

“It has become quite a concern for farmers. I don’t even know how to do farm work in the rainy season. The danger of lightning has become quite dangerous for farmers like us,” said U Myint Maung, a local farmer from Aungzeya Village in Kyauktaw Township.

Eight people were struck dead and two others were injured by lightning in post-cyclone Arakan State. Among the victims killed by lightning are three from Ponnagyun, two from Ramree and one each from Mrauk-U, Rathedaung and Kyaukphyu. Two injured by lightning are from Kyauktaw and Kyaukphyu townships.

The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) advises people to keep a safe distance from electrical appliances in cases of rain and lightning conditions.