The bodies of two Cambodian men were sent back to the Kingdom yesterday from Thailand, where they were struck dead by lightning while working at a sugarcane plantation in Aranh district in Sa Kaeo province.

Chhun Chhit, police chief at the Malai border checkpoint, said the victims were identified as Eng Det, 25, and his nephew Eng Na, 20, both from Banteay Meanchey province’s Malai district.

“According to the report we received from Aranh district authorities, the victims were struck dead by lightning while they were clearing grass in the sugarcane plantation,” he said.

Eng Sokchea, 45, the brother of Deth and father of Na, who also works at the same plantation, said the incident took place at about 3:15pm on Tuesday.

“After the lightning, the Thai farm owner contacted local authorities in order to send the bodies back to Cambodia,” he said, adding that the “farm owner also gave some money for the funeral”.

Sokchea said the bodies were cremated yesterday.

Earlier this month, a man was struck and killed by lightning in Kandal province.