A devastating lightning strike claimed the lives of four students and seriously injured two others in Malawi’s Dowa District, officials confirmed on Friday.
The victims, aged between 15 and 17, were pupils of Kaungwe Community Day Secondary School. The group, along with four others, had sought shelter in a house near the school during Thursday’s heavy rains.
Tragedy strikes during storm
Macpatson Msadala, a police spokesperson for the district, described the tragic incident. ‘They were all in the house when the lightning struck. Four died on the spot, while two were rushed to Mtengowanthenga Mission Hospital, where they are being treated for serious injuries,’ he told Anadolu Agency.
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The storm, which brought torrential rain and intense thunderstorms, has left the local community in shock. George Mkambeni, an education advisor in Dowa, expressed deep sorrow over the loss. ‘It’s quite tragic that we can lose this huge number of students in just the blink of an eye. We are very shocked and terrified at the same time,’ he said.
Torrential rains and past devastation
Malawi has been grappling with unusually heavy rainfall in recent days, which has caused significant loss of life and property across the country.
This latest incident comes as the nation continues to recover from the catastrophic effects of Cyclone Freddy, which struck in 2023. The cyclone killed thousands and displaced around one million people, leaving lasting scars on the country.
A call for preparedness
The tragic deaths of these students have reignited discussions about safety during extreme weather events. Malawi frequently experiences thunderstorms during its rainy season, and experts have long called for heightened public awareness and preventive measures to minimise casualties.
As the injured students recover in hospital, the Dowa District mourns the loss of young lives cut short by nature’s fury. The tragedy underscores the urgent need for better preparedness in the face of Malawi’s increasingly erratic climate.
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