Luanda – Angolan President João Lourenço on Friday in Luanda expressed dismay at the deaths of around 70 people that occured in recent days in Hula and Huambo provinces as a result of direct lightning strikes.
In a note published on the Presidency's Facebook page, the Angolan Head of State also expressed solidarity with those injured as a result of these natural phenomena.
The statement adds, in view of the increasing incidence of these events related to the rainy season, the competent authorities such as the Provincial Governments at the forefront have been instructed to do everything they can to protect the lives of the population, triggering various initiatives such as direct monitoring of the situation, providing all useful support to those affected and reinforcing awareness-raising actions to avoid exposure to lightning.
On Thursday, 11 people died and three were injured as a result of a lightning strike that hit a shelter installed on a farm in the Cusse commune, Caconda municipality, 236 kilometres north of Lubango, Huíla.
During the current rainy season, the firefighters have already reported 15 deaths from lightning strikes in Huíla, 11 in the municipality of Caconda and four in Caluquembe.
At least 13 people have died in Huambo in the last nine days after being struck by lightning, including six deaths and 14 injuries at the informal market of Bailundo village .VM/MRA/AMP
