Lightning kills Grade 3 student in Sarangani
COTABATO CITY, Philippines — A nine-year-old ethnic Blaan girl died instantly after she was struck by lightning in their yard in Barangay Upper Suyan, Malapatan, Sarangani, on Thursday, October 23.
Ranking personnel of the Malapatan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and barangay officials told reporters on Sunday, October 26, that it was drizzling when the Grade 3 pupil, Mariafel Mendi, was hit by lightning while walking quickly toward their house from one side of their yard.
Blaan tribal leaders and officials of the Malapatan Municipal Police Station who responded to the incident told reporters that the child slumped to the ground, lost consciousness and immediately stopped breathing.
The lightning was so strong that it was heard across almost all areas in Barangay Upper Suyan, according to villagers.
The indigenous Blaan community in Malapatan is mourning Mendi’s sudden death from the incident.
Municipal officials have promised to help facilitate her burial.
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