Lightning kills three boys, injures three others

JAKARTA (JP): Three teenage boys were killed instantly and three others severely injured when lightning struck a wooden farm hut they were sheltering in at Parigi village in Tangerang on Saturday afternoon.

Tangerang Police chief Lt. Col. Pudji Hartanto confirmed on Monday that Rachmin, 14, Uslani and Solihin, both 15, died in the accident in Parigi Baru subdistrict, Pondok Aren district.

He said the boys were aged between nine and 15.

"The youngsters usually go to work in the fields, which is near the village, at about 1 p.m. It was raining heavily at the time on Saturday. They went to work at 2 p.m. on Saturday when the rain had stopped temporarily," Pudji quoted villagers as saying.

"They were tending birds and cattle, and also plucking cassava, when it started to rain again at about 3 p.m. They took shelter in a small wooden hut, which was built directly under a tree."

Pudji said lightning struck the hut at about 4:30 p.m., killing the three instantly, injuring three others and hurling the three others to safety outside.

"When villagers reached the spot, they found the three boys were already dead," Pudji said.

Usriandi, Rachman and Badut, who suffered severe burns and blistering to their legs, are undergoing treatment at Asobirin Hospital in Serpong.

"The three lucky ones who suffered no injuries at all were 11- year-old Dari, nine-year-old Selamat and 10-year-old Sainan," Pudji said.

He added that there was one fatality in the area from electrocution by lightning last year. (ylt)