A thunder strike killed two children in Yeri Payam of Mvolo County in Western Equatoria State early this week.

John Komode, the Commissioner of Mvolo County told Eye Radio that the children were playing in a house when a thunder struck and killed them on the spot.

He identified the deceased as 11 and 5-year-olds Darious John Monday and Afi John Monday.

“It was on the 28^th  when the children were struck by a thunderstorm and two of them died on the spot.

“They were at home playing when the incident happened to them,” said Komode, adding that “Their father died three years back and they were living with the mother, so the first son was Darius John Monday, 11 and the other one is Afi John Monday, 5.

Sudden death following a lightning strike is due to simultaneous cardiac and respiratory arrest and is more common with direct strikes.

Typically, patients will have an asystolic arrest due to an immediate and simultaneous depolarization of all myocardial cells.

The county official says the incident was the first time of its kind in the area.

“It is the first time now for such an incident to happen in Mvolo County, we have never experienced such incidents before,” said the area official.