Lightning Kills High Number This Season
At least 35 people have been killed this year, including two in Phnom Penh last week, as thunderstorms produce severe lightning. (18 Au
Weather experts are warning citizens to take extraprecautions during this rainy season, with a high number of deaths reportedfrom lightning strikes in the city and the countryside. Long Saravuth, director of the department of meteorology ofthe Ministry of Water Resources, said Monday the ministry has distributed aninformation booklet to help people in rural areas protect themselves fromlightning. At least two people died in Phnom Penh this week when they were hit bylightning, police said. "We cannot prevent lightning strikes, but we canprotect ourselves from them," Long Saravuth said. By June, 35 people were killed by lightning, according toDisaster Management Committee figures, with much of the rainy season remaining.Last year, a total of 40 people died from lightning for the whole year. In Cambodia,lightning strikes happen most in the provinces around the TonleSap lake, where conditions create turbulent cumulonimbus clouds,making lightning more common, Long Saravuth said. In the city, lightning rods are used to protect people, hesaid, but these are not installed in the countryside. In rural areas, when people walk in the open, they are thehighest point around them and attract to lightning. In the city, residents should ensure they have their housesproperly wired and lightning rods installed. In the countryside, people shouldavoid working in fields during lightning storms. They should also avoid takingshelter directly under tall trees. During a storm, people should remain at least 4 meters fromtall trees, and they should avoid holding metal instruments, such as shovels orsickles. The ministry plans to install lightning absorbing equipmentaround the Tonle Sap lake, which can help alleviate lightning and protectpeople in a 40-kilometer perimeter, but funds are not available to do so. Nhim Vanda, vice president of the Disaster ManagementCommittee, said it was difficult to prevent lightning in rural areas, becauseit can happen anywhere with no advance warning. For Bor Savy, official warnings come too late. Her brother,Bor Thum, died this year in Kampong Cham province when he was hit by lightningas he dug in a canal during a storm. Now, her family takes precautions by turning off thetelevision and telephones during a storm.