NORTHERN CAMBODIA: A woman who was peeling palm fruit on her porch in Preah Net district was struck and killed by lightning, as a storm raged through Banteay Meanchey province and rain mixed with strong winds destroyed 58 houses in Malai district. Meanwhile in Rukkiri district of Battambang province, another man was also struck and killed by lightning. All of these incidents occurred on Thursday evening.

Police in Preah Net district, Banteay Meanchey province said that the woman who lost her life after being struck by lightning was 47-year-old Phal Phan, who lived in Kampong Krasaing village, Phnom Leap commune. At around 3:30 pm on Thursday, the victim was peeling palm fruit on the porch of her house, during a heavy rainstorm. Lightning struck the woman’s house and caused her to become seriously injured. She died four hours later at 7:00 pm the same day.

Over in Malai district of Banteay Meanchey province, heavy winds mixed with rain destroyed 58 houses but did not cause any casualties.

In Battambang province, which borders Banteay Meanchey, lightning also struck and killed a 35-year-old man while he was picking cashew nuts in the rain at around 3:35 pm in Rukkiri district.

The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology had previously announced on Wednesday, 27 April, that an increase in rainfall mixed with thunder and strong gusts of wind would occur and last until 3 May 2022. The Ministry said the situation was due to the weakening of high-pressure valleys in the Pacific, and the influence of low-pressure valleys pushing from the Indian Ocean.