Severs storms in Kampong Speu on Saturday injured at least six people and damaged 55 homes – completely destroying six of them – in the province’s Rakar Thom commune in Chbar Mon district, said Chhoeng Socheat, Chbar Mon deputy chief of inspection, adding that the storm also damaged crops.

Five individuals sustained mild injuries, but one man remains in Kampong Speu Provincial Hospital with serious arm, leg, head and back injuries sustained while protecting his 18-month-old son from their collapsing home. The child was unharmed.

“Before it rained, the atmosphere was terribly hot, and then the wind started blowing strongly,” Socheat said.

According to Keo Vy, spokesman for the National Committee for Disaster Management, as of Friday, storms and lightning strikes this year had already claimed 91 lives, injured 266 people and killed 59 head of cattle.

In addition, they’ve damaged more than 8,000 homes and public buildings, including schools, police stations, pagodas and health centres.

“The numbers have increased a little if we compare to the same period last year,” Vy said.