One man and at least 14 heads of cattle were killed on Tuesday by lightning strikes in two separate provinces.
Seng Socheat, police chief of Kandal’s Sa’ang district, said Sok Pheatra, 18, was struck dead in a paddy field while escorting his cattle home on Tuesday. The son of a farmer, Pheatra lived in the district’s Kraing Yov commune.
Meanwhile, that same night in Kratie province’s Sambor district, lightning killed at least 14 cows belonging to a farmer in Kbal Damrei commune.
Commune police chief Mao Sovannara said lightning had struck a stable built under a tree, with the structure’s zinc roof acting as a conductor.
The cattle’s owner, Mok Proeung, said he typically sells each cow for 1.5 million to 2 million riel, or $375 to $500.
“The lightning has caused me a terrible loss,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology had issued a warning for people living in rural areas, especially along the river, to be more cautious of dangerous weather.
The ministry expects severe weather from August 3-7.
