Deadly Lightning Strike Claims 13 Children, One Adult at Uganda Refugee Camp

Police in Uganda have reported that a lightning strike at a refugee camp resulted in the deaths of 13 children and one adult. Authorities stated that the incident occurred on Saturday evening while the victims were participating in a church service. Additionally, 34 individuals sustained injuries. The event took place at the Palabek Refugee Settlement, located in Uganda’s north-western region. This area has recently experienced significant rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning. Kituuma Rusoke, who serves as the spokesperson for the Uganda Police, informed BBC News that the adult fatality on Saturday was 21 years old. Mr. Rusoke did not disclose the precise ages of the deceased children. The Palabek Refugee Settlement accommodates over 80,000 refugees and asylum seekers, as per data from the UN’s refugee agency. A considerable number of these individuals originate from neighboring South Sudan. This incident follows a similar event four years prior, when lightning claimed the lives of 10 children in Arua, a city also situated in north-western Uganda. Those children were struck while pausing during a football game.