RUNDU – Five police officers and a park ranger were hospitalised after lightning struck their camp in the Bwabwata National Park. The lightning also killed a man at Ngaraunda farm in the Ndiyona constituency.
According to the police, on Monday at around 15h00 at Ngaraunda farm in the Ndiyona constituency, Kavango East region, a 21-year-old man died after he was struck by lightning while sheltering from the rain in a hut with his brother and niece.
The brother and his daughter were lucky to have escaped untouched even after the hut they were in caught fire from the lightning.
The deceased was identified by family members as Maundu Muhoko. Meanwhile, in a similar incident, still in Kavango East, Mukwe constituency in the Bwabwata National Park, members of the police’s anti-poaching unit were on Tuesday rushed to Andara hospital after they survived a lightning strike at their camp in the park along with a park ranger.
The lightning struck on Tuesday at 16h00 at Bolicia flying post in the park.
“The members were in their tents sleeping as it was raining when the post was struck by lightning. They did not sustain any injuries but were in shock. The officers are in stable health conditions and are receiving medical attention on trauma and shock,” said Kavango East acting police regional commander Bonifatius Kanyetu.
“The members were visited and the doctor indicated that they will be released from the hospital after counselling,’’ Kanyetu noted yesterday.