QUẢNG NINH — Two people were killed and four others, including two children, were hospitalised yesterday afternoon after they were struck by lightning in northern Quảng Ninh Province’s Quảng Yên Commune.

Nguyễn Mạnh Tuấn, deputy director of the provincial Health Department, said at about 2pm, a heavy downpour accompanied by lightning occurred at Minh Thành Ward in Quảng Yên Commune. Six people were struck by lightning while driving.

The four injured persons were taken to the local hospital for treatment, and one of them was later moved to the central hospital due to serious brain injuries.

On Wednesday afternoon, a family was struck by lightning while eating lunch at their house in Đắk Nông Province’s Cư Nia Commune.

One person was killed and four others were seriously injured. The injured were hospitalised. The remaining members were unharmed.

Previously, last Saturday afternoon, a farmer was killed and another was injured while working in the rice fields in central Thừa Thiên Huế Province’s Phong Xuân Commune.

Lê Thanh Hải, deputy director of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecast, said the conflict between convective heat and cold can cause extreme weather phenomena, such as thunderstorms, lightning and hail.

Lightning and hail usually occur in the mountainous areas, mostly in May and June. People should avoid going out when heavy downpour and lightning take place, not use electrical devices and stay away from higher places. — VNS