Deadly tally

Three people were killed and another seven were seriously injured when they were struck by lightning in Kampong Thom province’s Santuk and Prasat Balang districts yesterday, police said.

Santuk district police chief Pich Khal said lightning struck a house, killing a woman and her son-in-law and injuring four other family members.

“The authorities tell the villagers to be careful during lightning storms and find a place to hide,” he said. “But how can you avoid it when victims die even when they’re at home?”

Meanwhile, in Prasat Balang district, lightning struck a group of cousins playing in a rice field in overcast weather, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring three girls, aged seven to 13, police said.

An additional 18 people, including 14 children, were injured by lightning strikes yesterday in Kampong Speu province.

Lightning strikes killed 35 and injured 24 through the first four months of this year, according to government statistics.