Four recent deaths in Kandal and Ratanakkiri provinces have brought the number of people killed in lightning strikes this year to 24, a disaster management official said yesterday.

In addition to the 24 dead, lightning has injured a dozen people and killed 19 animals, said National Committee for Disaster Management spokesman Keo Vy.

In Kandal on Wednesday, two people were killed in the middle of a rice field in Kien Svay district, said district police officer Vong Se.

“They were herding their cattle to eat grass in a rice field. They were not in a hurry during the downpour so they were struck by lightning,” Se said.

Two men from Ratanakiri’s O’Yadav district also became casualties of lightning strikes after they were fatally hit on Tuesday, Vy said.

The NCDM said that it has recorded 198 storms over the past four months. The storms have led to the deaths of seven people and injured nine others. They have also caused 1,138 houses to completely collapse, partly damaged 3,993 houses and blew away 27 roofs.

“Please raise your awareness since there will be a lot of rain this rainy season,” Vy said. “Also, be careful with rain floods, which will arrive in June or July.”