By Jennifer P. Rendon
A lightning strike claimed the life of a 36-year-old man from Maayon, Iloilo afternoon of July 2
Police identified the fatality as Regie de Mesa, a farmer from Barangay Piña, Maayon town.
The incident also injured Jovie Clavel Estorque, 31, also a resident of Piña village.
Major Cyril Punzalan, Maayon police chief, said that another person was wounded but decided not to seek medical attention after he only suffered minor injuries.
According to reports, the three farmers and two others were out in the field when it started to heavily rain, coupled with lightning and thunder.
The group later decided to seek refuge at a nearby nipa hut.
They were inside the shanty when lightning struck and hit the three victims.
Members of the Maayon Emergency Response Team brought the victims to Bailan District Hospital in Pontevedra town.
However, de Mesa was declared dead on arrival.
Estorque was later allowed to go home after receiving medical treatment.
