Four teachers and one male community member at Katena Primary School in Milenge district in Luapula Province have survived a lightning strike, which left two of the victims unconscious.
Milenge District Health Director, Mwila Katongo, confirmed that all the victims, including those who were initially unconscious, are currently in stable condition.
“The patients are receiving adequate treatment, and the team on the ground did a wonderful job in resuscitating those who were critically ill. The others are under observation and may be discharged within the next two days.”
Dr. Katongo said.
He observed that no adverse complications or fatalities have been recorded.
The media reports that Dr. Katongo has since urged the public to avoid taking shelter under trees or unfinished buildings, warning that these structures heighten the risk of lightning-related injuries.
The victims were struck while standing under a tree, which is an informal internet “hotspot” used by teachers who struggle to access mobile network from within the school premises.
One of the victims, Deputy Headteacher Nancy Makayi, said they were attempting to complete online banking tasks when the lightning bolt hit.
“We were under the tree searching for internet. I only remember seeing lightning and then my colleagues on the ground experiencing convulsions. I tried to rescue one of them, but I also fell. I do not remember anything after that. People told me my eyes rolled upwards and I had intense muscle spasms,” Ms Makayi recounted from her hospital bed.
She added that the force of the lightning strike was so intense that she even lost a tooth during the incident.
Meanwhile, a community member, Isaac Mulinda, was struck while riding his motorbike within the same radius.
“I just felt like electricity passed through me. I fell, and the next thing I knew I was in the hospital. I still have chest pains, headaches and joint pains,”
he narrated.
Meanwhile, an eyewitness, Enna Meleki, described the scene, saying the teachers were thrown to the ground after a second powerful strike hit the tree.
“We saw clouds forming. The first lightning was not strong, but the second came like glass and hit the tree. Smoke rose, and the teachers were thrown down. They tried to stand but kept falling and convulsing,” Meleki narrated.
