KAMPALA, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Six members of a family, including four children, were killed after lightning struck their home during a heavy downpour in northwestern Uganda on Saturday, police said.
Josephine Angucia, spokesperson for the West Nile regional police, told Xinhua by telephone that the lightning struck the family's house in Maracha District.
According to local authorities, the lightning strike triggered a fire that rapidly engulfed the house.
"At the time of the incident, all six members of the family were asleep inside the house and were unable to escape. The fire spread quickly, consuming the structure and its occupants before any rescue could be made," a statement issued by Oleba Town Council said.
Police said the victims included the parents and their four children.
Angucia said a team of police forensic experts had been dispatched to the scene and that more details would be released after investigations. ■