Lightning strike kills 2, injures 8

TANGERANG (JP): Two sand miners were killed and eight others injured when lightning struck a hut in Dandang village, Serpong, here Sunday evening.

Uding, 30, and Agus, 28, died in the freak accident. The men's colleagues Epe, Suwad, Kanda, Lili, Hasan, Rosa, Umar and Hendra, aged between 20 and 35, suffered injuries and some lost consciousness.

Second Sgt. Paimin of the Serpong Police subprecinct confirmed yesterday that all were victims of the lightning strike.

He said the 10 workers had taken shelter from the rain and were drinking coffee in the hut when the lightning strike occurred.

When word spread of the incident, members of the local community rushed to the sand mining area to lend a hand. Others reported it to the local police station.

"Two of the victims died instantly," he said, adding that their bodies were sent to Tangerang General Hospital for a postmortem examination.

Those who survived the lightening strike were sent to nearby Assaifah Medical Clinic. They reportedly suffered minor injuries to their hands and backs.

All the miners worked at a sand mine owned by Mumu Seherman.

Chief of Tangerang Police precinct Lt. Col. Aryanto Boediharjo said the deaths were the result of the lightening strike.

The body of Agus, a resident of Suradita village, and Uding, of Dandang village, both in Serpong, were buried yesterday. (41/09)