A lightning strike in a Ugandan refugee camp claimed the lives of at least 14 people, including several children, during a prayer service on Saturday evening. The incident occurred in the Palabek refugee camp in northern Uganda, where approximately 50 individuals were gathered in a makeshift church when a heavy storm hit the area.
According to officials, the lightning struck the church’s metal roof, resulting in the deaths of 14 individuals—five girls and nine boys aged between 14 and 18, as reported by William Komech, the resident district commissioner for the Lamwo region.
Additionally, 34 people sustained injuries and received treatment at a nearby health centre.
Most of the refugees affected by the tragedy are from the Nuer community of South Sudan. Uganda’s Minister for Refugees and Disaster Preparedness, Hillary Onek, stated that the government is collaborating with the UNHCR and other agencies to provide necessary assistance to the survivors. He confirmed that a government team is on-site to help deliver the bodies to their respective families.
