Blantyre, Malawi, (Raphael Tenthani – Newstime Africa) – A bolt of lightening Thursday struct at least 20 people in the northern lake-shore district of Nkhata Bay.

Blantyre Malawi

“We received 20 casulaties from Thula Village in the area of Traditional Authority Fukamapiri,” said Chintheche Health Centre official Greyson Kumwenda.

Kumwenda said the victims include a baby girl, eight women and eleven men. He said the casualties were responding well to treatment but would have to spend time in hospital.

According to eye-witness Samson Nyirenda, there were some light rains in the area when the bolt of lightening flashed. ”It all happened in a flash; there was a lightening and all of a sudden 20 pen were down,” he said.

Kumwenda said apart from the human casualties, the lightening also destroyed  solar electrict pannels that used to light up the village.

Rains have started falling in most parts of Malawi.

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