Video: 2 dead, 1 injured in Hendrina and Belfast lightning strikes
Two people died and one was injured in separate lightning strikes in Mpumalanga towns, with police urging residents to seek shelter during storms.
Three people were struck by lightning during thunderstorms in Hendrina and Belfast over the past week, resulting in two confirmed fatalities.
Middelburg Observer reports the first incident occurred last Sunday at approximately 15:55 near the dam at Cosmos Park in Hendrina, Mpumalanga. Two men were fishing as stormy weather moved into the area.
Video footage from a nearby property captured the moment of the lightning strike, highlighting the deadly nature of the incident.
According to provincial police spokesperson Colonel Jabu Ndubane, the men left the water when the storm started and sought shelter under a tree.
“Lightning struck while the two were standing under the tree. One man died at the scene, while the second victim was transported to hospital for urgent medical treatment,” Ndubane confirmed.
Fatal strike in Belfast
A second fatal lightning strike was confirmed in Belfast on Saturday.
According to Ndubane, initial reports received by Belfast police indicated that a man was found lying near the Belfast landfill site in the Siyathuthuka area. Further investigation revealed that the man had been struck by lightning.
A witness later informed police that she saw the man being struck by lightning while walking on a sidewalk. Police confirmed that the victim did not survive.
An inquest docket has been opened at the Belfast Police Station to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.
Safety warning issued
Authorities have urged the public to exercise extreme caution during thunderstorms, warning that standing under trees, walking in open areas, or remaining near water significantly increases the risk of lightning strikes.
Residents are advised to seek shelter inside enclosed buildings or vehicles when storms approach.
As Middelburg and surrounding areas continue to experience volatile summer weather, police and emergency services stress that lightning strikes are unpredictable and often fatal, leaving little chance for escape once conditions turn dangerous.
Watch the strike in Hendrina:
Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.
Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
Read original story on www.citizen.co.za
