By Hou Akot Hou
At least seven people were killed by lightning on Tuesday in Awuluic village, Aweil Center County, in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr El Ghazal State.
The victims, part of a group of vegetable growers at Awuluic farms, were seeking shelter in a locally thatched hut known as a ‘rakuba’ after leaving their fields.
A thunderstorm struck as they sheltered from the rain, which was the first rainfall in Aweil for some time.
Local authorities identified the deceased as Akec Diing Athian and her two children, aged approximately 7 and 4; Akuol Thiik, 33, and her two children; and a young girl named Ajak.
Dut Bak, the local chief, described the event as a horrific and surprising incident.
“I am appealing to the people of Aweil in general to take heart. There is a need for support as they are being buried in a mass grave. We are calling upon the government to do what is necessary, as this has shocked us immensely,” Mr. Dut stated.
He noted that the young girl, Ajak, was visiting the area, which he found particularly unusual.
Simon Dut Lual, the Awuluic Payam administrator, confirmed the incident, adding that the tragic event occurred around 4:00 PM.
“While they were at the vegetable farm, they sought shelter, and God took them in this way. Let us all take heart as the people of Aweil, as such a death is uncommon,” he added.
Lightning is a flash of light produced by a short-duration, high-voltage discharge of electricity within clouds or between a cloud and the earth.