Lightning kills four; injures one in post-cyclone Arakan State

By Admin 31 May 2023

DMG Newsroom
31 May 2023, Sittwe

Four people were struck dead and another person was injured by lightning after Cyclone Mocha made landfall in Arakan State on May 14.

Two victims were from Ramree and Rathedaung Townships and the injured man was from Kyaukphyu Township, according to figures obtained by DMG.

Maung Myint Myat Maung, 17, and Maung Lin Lin Tun, 15, from Nagar Village, part of Arakan State’s Laytaung town, were reportedly struck dead by lightning while the teenage boys were playing games on their mobile phones at their home this afternoon.

“It was raining outside at the time [of lightning]. One was playing games with a charger and the other was sleeping on his lap when the pair was struck dead by lightning,” said Ma Lei Lei Win Shwe, a local woman from Nagar Village.

A four-year old boy identified as Maung Maung Nge from Pyainetaw Village in Rathedaung Township, was also struck dead by lightning at his home on May 26.

“The roof of his [lightning strike victim] home was blown off by the storm. The child was struck dead by lightning while he was sitting under the home,” said Ko David, a resident of Pyainetaw Village.

After the very severe cyclone, the weather is hot and raining, lightning and thunder are occurring in some states and regions, including Arakan State.

U Hla Tun, Deputy Director of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), said that due to the extreme rise in temperature since the storm in Arakan State, it will face serious problems.

“When it rains, the temperature drops, but when the rain stops, the temperature rises immediately, causing lightning. There may be more thunderstorms in the coming rainy season,” he explained.

DMH advises people to stay away from electrical appliances in case of rain and lightning conditions.