Five drown, lightning strikes six in C. Java

As many as eight people were reported dead on Monday, as a result of being swept away by strong currents and struck by lightning in separate incidents in the province of Central Java.

Data gathered by the Center for Communication and Information Control (K3I) at the Central Java Police, stated that the tragedies occurred in Wonogiri, Kebumen and Pemalang regencies in Central Java.

In Wonogiri, two elementary school students were swept away by strong river currents. The two victims, Slamet from Gedong village and Wardoyo from Sambiroto village here, drowned in the hamlet of Sumber Bobol in Gedong village. The two children, both eight years old, were seen playing in the river before they were swept away by the current.

In Kebumen, flooding hit the area on Monday, killing three people. The fatalities were, Rosim, 13, and Misiono, 12, of Ngasinan village in Bonorowo subdistrict and Mulyorejo, 68, of Penimbun village in Karangayam subdistrict, Kebumen regency.

Rosim and Misiono were swept away while they were fishing in Gentan River here while Mulyorejo was believed to have been dragged by strong currents while defecating in the swollen Mertalu River.

Meanwhile in Pemalang regency, six farmers were struck by lightning in Kendalsari village here while working on a farm belonging to a local resident, Dustam.

Two of them, Siyati aged 35 and Rohatun aged 45 died on the spot while Maryati, 30, died later in hospital. Three others suffered burns, namely Waluyo, 30, Bawon, 40, and Sudono, 54. -- Antara