Lightning kills five in Irian Jaya

Lightning kills five in Irian Jaya

MERAUKE, Irian Jaya: Lightning killed five inhabitants of Jasa Mulia village in the Semangga Tanah Miring transmigration resettlement Sunday afternoon.

"The five victims were a mother and her four children. They were hit while working in the field close to a statue. They had moved to the resettlement area only last year," the village chief told Antara.

The Meteorological and Geophysical Office in Merauke said that heavy downpours, strong winds and thunderstorms have characterized the weather during recent weeks. People were warned to be careful.

During the thunderstorms most television sets in Merauke were out of order. (16)