Tragedy Strikes Ugandan Refugee Camp: Lightning Kills 13 Children and 1 Adult

A devastating lightning strike in a Ugandan refugee camp has left 13 children and 1 adult dead, and nearly 50 people injured.

According to a report by the BBC, the incident occurred on November 2 at the Palabek Refugee Shelter in northwest Uganda. The victims were attending a prayer ceremony when the area was hit by heavy rain, thunder, and lightning.

Kituma Rusoke, a spokesperson for the Ugandan Police, confirmed that the adult who died was 21 years old. The police have not released the exact ages of the children who died. The incident resulted in 34 injuries.

The Palabek refugee camp is home to approximately 80,000 refugees, mostly from South Sudan, who fled the civil war. The camp is located in the Lamoro area of Uganda.

This is not the first time a lightning strike has caused tragedy in Uganda. In 2020, a lightning strike in Arua, northwest Uganda, killed 10 children who were taking a break from a football competition.