BACOLOD CITY (PNA) – Six persons were killed while some 15 others were injured after they were allegedly hit by lightning Wednesday afternoon at Sitio Baras-barasan, Barangay Manlucahoc in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental.
Initial police report identified five children among the fatalities, including Charlyn Seminion, 12; Rose Ann Seminion, 12; Arvin Niel Seminion, 10; May Ann Seminion, 9; and Mariel Montesino, 12.
Another fatality was identified as Mery Tejoc, 35.
Lolina Seminion, who was seriously injured, was brought to a hospital in Bacolod.
The injured were identified as Aira Seminion, 2; Wilma Fe Seminion, 9; Erick Mark Seminion, 12; and Romila Seminion, 13.
Also hurt in the incident were Alvin Roy, George, Alma, Ronalyn, Ryan and Nia Seminion; as well as Nelson Sipaway, Roy Balancas, Ryan Balansac, and Wilma Montesino.
All are being treated at Merceditas J. Montilla District Hospital in Sipalay.
Chief Inspector Nazer Canja, city police chief, said the adult victims were working on a sugarcane farm along with the children prior to the incident.
They took shelter underneath a truck filled with cane stalks when it rained around 2 p.m. It was when the lightning hit them.
Witnesses said they just hear a loud sound before seeing the children sprawled on the ground, some of them crying.
