Lightning strike kills 2 in Eastern Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Two people have died in a lightning strike in Ethiopia's north Eastern Afar regional state, district police chief confirmed on Wednesday.

The tragic lightning incident in the region's Berahele district has killed two individuals while five others have suffered heavy and light injuries, local media Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) reported on Wednesday.

The lightning strike in Afar's Berahele district, which claims the lives of two primary school students while they were waiting for school hours, was accompanied by heavy rain and thunderstorm.

The Afar regional state in northeastern part of Ethiopia, with majority arid and semi-arid climate conditions, is prone to negative weather conditions, including the recent El Nino driven drought that hits the East African country since 2015.

The tragedies occurred as Ethiopia is about to commence its major rainy season, which in most cases witnesses above-average rainfall featuring thunderstorm.

With Ethiopia's major rainy season approaching, the Ethiopian Meteorology Agency frequently urged citizens, who are living in lightning and thunderstorm prone areas, to take vigil as the above-average rainfall could be accompanied with thunderstorm and unexpected rainfall.

Despite safety concerns, the rainfall is vital for Ethiopia's main harvesting season. Enditem