Picture courtesy of Workpoint

 

Two men lost their lives after being struck by lightning while building a fishing raft in the middle of Nong Han Lake, located between the Kumphawapi and Ku Kaeo districts of Udon Thani Province.

 

The incident occurred at approximately 18.00 on 17 May. The Kumphawapi Public Welfare Foundation Rescue Unit received an emergency call from local medical services reporting that two villagers had been struck by lightning in the area of Ban Chalae, Kumphawapi district.

 

Rescue teams braved torrential rain and ongoing thunderstorm activity as they navigated they boats into the centre of the lake. Upon arrival, both victims had already succumbed to their injuries. They were later identified as Mr Wiran aged 68, a resident of Ban Mueang Phruek in Chalae subdistrict, and Mr Thanawut aged 46, from Khon Sai subdistrict in Ku Kaeo district.

 

Rescue personnel retrieved the bodies and they were transported to Kumphawapi Hospital, where police investigators and forensic doctors conducted post-mortem examinations.

 

The lightning strike occurred while the two men were in the process of constructing a sadueng, a type of bamboo raft platform used to support large fishing nets, in preparation for fishing during the rainy season. Mr Wiran’s wife, who had accompanied the men and waited on the shore, was left unharmed but severely traumatised by the event.

 

Mr Phairi 75, a relative of the deceased, described the moment of the tragedy: “There was thunder, but no rain yet. Suddenly, there was a single lightning strike, just one. It hit them both directly while they were working together on the raft.”

 

Local officials have urged residents to take extra precautions during the rainy season, particularly when working in open or water-bound areas during storms.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Workpoint 2025-05-19.

 

 

 

very sad indeed,   hard working folks succumbing to such a tragic end. 

 

I bet they once thought,  I've got more chance of being struck by lightning than winning the lottery.   

 

 

RIP fishermen.

never forgotten 

How sad, but why do we suddenly hear about people dying of lightning strikes so often now. Almost been 1 time per week for a while. I can´t remember we been reading so much about that before. Maybe more coverage in that area by the news.

15 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

How sad, but why do we suddenly hear about people dying of lightning strikes so often now. Almost been 1 time per week for a while. I can´t remember we been reading so much about that before. Maybe more coverage in that area by the news.

More here yearly, as much as twice as  many, in a much smaller country, than in the US. Most are fishermen and farmers. In the US, it's golfers, soccer players, runners and fishermen that are the most victims.