By Jennifer P. Rendon
Lightning strikes claimed the life of a 64-year-old man and injured another in San Rafael, Iloilo afternoon of Oct 25, 2021.
The separate incidents happened in Barangays Ilongbukid and San Dionisio, which are at least six kilometers apart.
Lieutenant Alexander Lauron, San Rafael police chief, identified the fatality as Edmundo Bañas, a resident of Sitio Busay, Brgy. San Dionisio.
The victim was inside their house fixing their galvanized iron roof when he got hit by a lightning strike around 3:30 p.m. of Monday.
His wife was with him when the incident happened.
Bañas was rendered unconscious and was brought to Gov. Niel D Tupas Sr. District Hospital but did not pull through.
A few minutes before that, it was gathered that Sheralyn Lalula was also hit by a lightning strike.
She and her relatives were inside the cottage at Pagulong Beach Resort when the incident happened.
Lalula was brought to Don Valerio Plamares Sr. District Hospital in Passi City, but she was released from confinement after getting treated.
Lauron said they experienced heavy rainfall with thunderstorms for about two hours Monday afternoon.