Lightning bolt kills 5, hurts 9

A bolt of lightning instantly killed five farmers harvesting rice in San Jose, Ormoc City yesterday while nine other people, including two boys aged seven and 10, suffered serious burns in the freak accident.

The tragedy marred what was to be a happy occasion as Ormoc City was then celebrating its 53rd charter anniversary.

President Arroyo was supposed to grace the occasion but had to fly to Malaysia for the funeral of the wife of Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Vice President Noli de Castro went to Ormoc in her stead. It was not clear what assistance he gave to the victims of the tragedy.

Ormoc City police chief Doroteo Palconit told The Freeman a sudden downpour at about 2 p.m. drove the victims to a shanty in the middle of a rice field to seek shelter when a lightning bolt struck the frail makeshift structure.

The victims were supposed to have made use of the unexpected break to take their delayed lunch when the tragedy struck.

Those confirmed dead at the Ormoc District Hospital were Rodolfo Fuentes, 19, Rommel Ortiz, 21, Jesus Ortiz, 18, Cornwel Veraque, 33, and Danny Wagas, 25.

The nine who suffered second to third degree burns were Antonio Wagas, 35, Olympio Empleo, age undetermined, Evelyn Wagas, the wife of Danny, 20, Reylan Polinio, 7, Junrel Aquenes, 10, a certain Biboy, Remuel Mirafuentes, 16, Florencio Catado, 54, and Eddie Godin, 35.

According to accounts, the farmers were laying out their meals in the shelter when the lightning bolt struck.

" They were resting in the shack because of the rain and were supposed to have lunch when the bolt of lightning cracked as if in an explosion. The five failed to react and were killed. The nine appeared to have survived by dropping to the ground.

The site of the tragedy is 12 kilometers or 20 minutes away from the Ormoc District Hospital in the city proper and is four kilometers inland from the highway.

Palconit said the tragedy was the worst in Ormoc City since the flashfloods of November 1991 when about 2,000 people were killed.

Weather observer Alex Padin of PAGASA said there was no weather disturbance in the Visayas and Mindanao yesterday.

But an intertropical convergence zone had been producing thunderstorms in the area.

Padin said lightning occurs when cumulus and nimbus clouds " bump " against each other.

He said there are two types of lighting - cloud-to-cloud and cross.

" The one that struck Ormoc was possibly cross lightning. That happens when cold air above clashes with warm air below.

He said the best way to avoid getting hit by lighting is to avoid an flat and open spaces sich as ricefields.