EIGHT people, including six pupils and a teacher at Kibirizi Primary
School in Ujiji municipality, Kigoma Region, were struck dead and 15
others left injured by lightning that occurred at noon.
In a briefing to the 'Daily News' over the phone yesterday, the
Kigoma Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Ferdinand Mtui, confirmed the
incident, saying it occurred while the pupils were in their classrooms.
"It is true that the incident occurred, killing eight people,
including six pupils and a teacher. Among them was a passer-by," he
said, adding that the lightning was caused by the heavy rains that
pounded the area.
According to the information provided by the Doctor-in-Charge of the
Kigoma Regional Hospital, Mr Fadhili Kabaya, the deceased were mentioned
as a teacher at the school, Elinaza Mbwambo (25) and Focas Ntahaba
(45), a resident of Bangwe area in Kigoma municipality.
Others who died are Yusuph Ntahoma (8), Hassan Ally (9), Fatuma Sley
(7), Zamda Seif (8), Shukurani Yohana (7) and Warupe Kapupa (10), all
Standard One pupils at the school.
The doctor further reported that they had received 15 casualties, 10
out of whom were treated and discharged upon recovery. Five more pupils
are still undergoing medical treatment at the hospital.
One of the survivors, a teacher, Ms Merina Sililo, described the
incident as shocking and heartbreaking, thanking God for her survival.
She narrated that the incident happened in a fraction of a second as
lightning struck her and several pupils in the classrooms. Apart from
those who died, several others lost consciousness.
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