Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Lightning warning issued as rainy season draws near

Lightning warning issued as rainy season draws near

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
A man was killed by lightning at Chhouk district in Kampot province in April. FACEBOOK

Lightning warning issued as rainy season draws near

From the beginning of January to mid-May, lightning strikes left at least 13 people dead and nine others injured and killed a total of 25 cattle, according to official data seen by The Post.

Most of the victims were reported to have been ploughing fields, herding cattle, playing with their phones, or travelling by bicycle or motorbike during a thunder storm.

The latest case took place on May 10 when a lightning strike occurred in Talou commune’s Tuol Toteung village of Pursat province’s Talou Sen Chey district, killing a man and a woman, according to district police chief Ul Hay.

He said that prior to the lightning strike, 37-year-old man Eng Ly and 55-year-old Chhorn Chan, deputy chief of the village, were looking for a tractor driver to plough their fields.

“They were struck by lightning while sheltering from the rain under a tree close to their field,” he said.

On May 1, 34-year-old Ros Rong, a resident of Bankam commune’s Sethy Village of Takeo province’s Prey Kabbas district, was struck by lightning while spraying fertiliser in light rain, according to district police chief Chum Chhoeun.

He said his officers had worked with meteorologists to educate local people in ways to protect themselves from lightning.

“We have told people not to herd cattle or work in the fields when it is raining, and not to shelter under tall trees or use electronic devices, as these increase the risk of being struck,” he said.

Ly Sovann, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health, said people should follow the advice of experts.

He gave instructions on how to provide first aid to a victim of a lightning.

“If a victim is not breathing, we should perform CPR. Blankets should be used to keep the vitim warm, and we should be careful moving them, as they may have broken bones or internal bleeding,” he said.

According to forecasts by the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, at the beginning of this rainy season, there will be heavy rain, strong winds and thunderstorms, which may affect the daily lives of people living in areas vulnerable to lightning strikes, such as mountains, plateaus and lowlands.

MOST VIEWED

  • Wing Bank opens new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004

    Wing Bank celebrates first anniversary as commercial bank with launch of brand-new branch. One year since officially launching with a commercial banking licence, Wing Bank on March 14 launched a new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004. The launch was presided over by

  • Girl from Stung Meanchey dump now college grad living in Australia

    After finishing her foundational studies at Trinity College and earning a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Melbourne in 2022, Ron Sophy, a girl who once lived at the Stung Meanchey garbage dump and scavenged for things to sell, is now working at a private

  • Ministry orders all schools, public and private, to close for SEA Games

    From April 20 to May 18, all public and private educational institutions will be closed to maintain order and support Cambodia's hosting of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, said a directive from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Cambodia will host the

  • Wat Phnom hornbills attract tourists, locals

    Thanks to the arrival of a friendly flock of great hornbills, Hour Rithy, a former aviculturist – or raiser of birds – in Kratie province turned Phnom Penh tuk tuk driver, has seen a partial return to his former profession. He has become something of a guide

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to

  • Angkor Beer strengthens national pride with golden new look and fresher taste

    Angkor Beer – the "Gold of Angkor" – has a new look, one that is more stylish and carries a premium appeal, as well as a fresher taste and smoother flavour, making it the perfect choice for any gathering. Angkor Beer recently launched its new design, one