KIGALI, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Lightning struck 15 people gathered in eastern Rwanda, killing nine and injuring the others, local media reported on Sunday.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening in the Jarama Sector of Ngoma District in Rwanda's Eastern Province.
The victims were farmers taking shelter from the rain after working in their gardens, Eastern Province Governor Pudence Rubingisa told Rwanda Broadcasting Agency, adding that the injured were rushed to a local hospital.
Experts note that lightning strikes are common in parts of eastern and western Rwanda due to the country's topography and terrain.
Government guidelines for avoiding lightning include seeking shelter indoors promptly, avoiding shelter under trees, refraining from using phones during thunderstorms, unplugging electrical appliances, and installing lightning conductors. ■
