PHOTO: One of the victims of the lightning strike being carried
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
Credible reports from Grand Cape Mount County in western Liberia say five persons have been killed by lighting in two separate communities in the Porkpa District area, some 55 miles from Monrovia.
The tragedy, which happened on June 5, 2020 amidst the ongoing rainy season, took the life of a 17-year-old girl identified as Mamie Tufa, a 7th grade student who came Sierra Leone to spend time with her relative in Mageema Town as a result of the lockdown.
“Lightning is an electrical discharge caused by imbalances between storm clouds and the ground, or within the clouds themselves,” according to www.nationalgeographic.com.
The victim, Mamie Tufa was sitting on the front porch of their house pealing eggplant to cook the evening mean when the lightning struck her.
At the time, a man, age 21 identified as Semilah Kemokai had come to visit her.
The report further says that when they were sitting and conversing, Mamie had a touch screen cellphone. She gave to the man, Semilah and while he was holding the phone, the lightning abruptly struck both of them, killing her instantly.
The man later died from the blast.
One report says prior to the incident, Mamie was said to have informed her friends that she was threatened by a lady for man business in neighbouring Sierra Leone.
At the same time, in another part of Grand Cape Mount County, in Bombojah community, Gommonwealth District, nine persons were also said to have been affected by the lightning strike, which hit the area on the same day, June 5, 2020.
Three of them died immediately—an old woman and two little boys.
All the nine persons were sitting on their front porches of their homes, when the lightning struck and killed them.
The six persons injured, including a pregnant woman, are said to have suffered serious injuries and are presently being treated at a local clinic in the area, The pregnant woman was transferred to the Sinje Health Center due to the severity of her condition.
In another development, a violent storm has destroyed several homes in Tewor District, Grand Cape Mount County over the weekend. The incident happened on Friday night June 5, 2020.