Lightning kills boy in Lilongwe

Lightning killed a 10 year-old-boy on Monday in Lilongwe’s Senti residential area and also injured three other children the deceased was playing with, police confirmed.

Witnesses told Malawi News Agency (Mana) that the lightning struck the four boys in the afternoon while they were running to take shelter from the rains which had just started.

“We just saw the boys falling to the ground after lightning struck. At first, we thought they were just taking cover, but we later realised that they had collapsed,” said a witness.

He said the four were rushed to Area 18 Health Centre but on the way, one of the boys died.

Lilongwe Police confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Aaron James who was living in Senti with his parents. He came from Loti Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Makwangwala in Ntcheu.

“The father of the deceased reported the incident to us. The other three who were injured were referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital where they were admitted,” Lilongwe Police spokesperson Kingsley Dandaula said.

Lightning has killed nearly 15 people nationwide between November and December this year. n