Zambia: Lightning has struck a house, killing four among them three people of the same family in Shibuyunji District of Central province.
Provincial Permanent Secretary Milner Mwanakampwe explained that the incident happened around 07 hours in the morning yesterday in Nangoma when lightning struck a house in the area, killing four of its inhabitants while others escaped.
Mwanakampwe named the deceased in an interview with media as a year-six months old baby named Lizzy Mwanza, 7-year-old Rosemary Mwanza, 35-year-old Felistus Lubilo, seven a 30-year-old male only known as Mr Mwape.
He stated that the government will provide logistical support towards the funerals and burial of the four through the provision of coffins and foodstuff.
“Four cattle were also killed when the lightning struck the same area,” said Mwanakampwe.
Meanwhile, the Central Province Permanent Secretary also disclosed that some families in other parts of Shibuyunji and Serenje districts were left homeless following hailstorms, adding that some houses collapsed while others had their roofs blown off.
“We have since advised the affected districts to quickly prepare reports. I’m in touch with the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), and we are doing everything possible to make sure that our people who have been left homeless are provided with the basic necessities to make sure they survive,” he said.
Mr Mwanakmpwe noted that the affected families lost their food and other house necessities and are in need of relief.
Meanwhile, over 200 by 50 Kilogramme bags of maize have been allocated to people affected by hunger in the Kamimbia and Liteta wards in Luano district.
Mr Mwanakampwe said the maize had been secured from the national strategic reserves to provide relief in the two valley areas where people recorded poor production following flash floods and poor rains experienced in the 2022/23 agriculture season.
“I just want to assure our people in the two wards that the Government will provide the necessary support and ensure that no one dies of hunger,” he said.
He said that the government will airlift relief food to the area in the next 14 days.
Mwanakampwe said, “We shall continue to monitor the situation in the district.”