World of the Bizarre

64 people killed by lightning in Bangladesh

By T.K. Randall
May 15, 2016 ·  6 comments

It is rare for lightning to kill large numbers of people. Image Credit: CC BY-SA 2.5 Blyskawica The chances of being killed by a bolt of lightning are incredibly low, yet for residents in Bangladesh recently this unlikely scenario has been playing out over and over again to devastating effect.

Leading Bengali-language newspapers have reported that a total of 64 people have been killed by lighting strikes since Thursday - most of them residing in rural areas.Factors contributing to this freak disaster are thought to include deforestation across the region and a rise in the number of farmers working out in the open fields using metal tools and equipment.

Lightning strike deaths are not something that the government typically monitors in Bangladesh however after this incident there are indications that this may soon change.

"We will make all efforts so that lightning strikes cannot be that big a threat in Bangladesh," said Mohammed Riaz Ahmed, the country's disaster management chief.

Source: Fox News | Comments (6)

Tags: Bangladesh, Lightning