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Bangladesh Lightning Strikes Kill 14
27 Apr
Summary
- Lightning strikes across Bangladesh killed at least 14 people.
- Victims were mostly farmers and laborers in exposed areas.
- Deforestation is linked to increased fatal lightning strikes.
At least 14 individuals lost their lives due to lightning strikes that affected multiple regions of Bangladesh. These fatalities occurred as seasonal thunderstorms, characterized by heavy rain and intense lightning, swept across the country.
The majority of the victims were identified as farmers working in open fields or laborers caught in exposed locations. Several other individuals sustained injuries and were transported to nearby medical facilities, with some reported to be in critical condition.
Bangladesh has grappled with hundreds of lightning-related deaths annually. The country officially recognized lightning strikes as a natural disaster in 2016 following a particularly deadly May that saw over 200 fatalities. Experts suggest that a decline in tree cover, a consequence of deforestation, contributes to the rise in fatal lightning incidents by reducing natural lightning attractors.
Fatalities from lightning are most common during the pre-monsoon months of April through June. This period experiences rising heat and humidity, conditions conducive to the formation of unstable weather systems and severe thunderstorms.
