A lightning strike during a church service at a refugee camp in north-western Uganda has left 13 children and one adult dead, local authorities report.
The tragedy unfolded on Saturday evening at Palabek Refugee Settlement, where heavy rains, accompanied by thunder and lightning, have been sweeping the region. In addition to the fatalities, 34 people were injured in the incident, according to police.
Kituuma Rusoke, spokesperson for Uganda Police, confirmed that the adult victim was a 21-year-old man. However, the ages of the deceased children were not disclosed.
Palabek Refugee Settlement, which houses over 80,000 refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from neighbouring South Sudan, has been heavily impacted by the recent severe weather.
This incident echoes a similar tragedy four years ago when lightning killed 10 children during a football break in Arua, another area in north-western Uganda.
