Lightning strike kills seven students, injures 82 in Geita
What you need to know:
- Among the 82 injured, two are in critical condition.
Geita. Seven Form Three students from Businda Secondary School in Bukombe District, Geita Region, have died and 82 others have been injured after being struck by lightning while in the classroom.
Bukombe District Commissioner, Mr Paskas Muragili, told The Citizen’s sister newspaper Mwananchi that the incident occurred on Monday, January 27, 2025.
He explained that among the 82 injured, two are in critical condition.
The district commissioner visited the students receiving treatment at Bukombe District Hospital after being struck by lightning during class.
“They were in class during the rain when lightning struck, killing seven. Initial reports suggest six are boys and one is a girl, but we are still verifying their names as I have not yet visited the morgue,” he said.
“Although we have not yet identified the deceased, some injured have provided their names. We will receive official information as the situation develops,” he added.
Mr Muragili also noted that medical personnel quickly arrived at the school following the incident.
This marks the third such lightning-related incident in the Geita Region. On October 18, 2019, 39 students from Ihumilo Primary School in Geita District were injured.
Before the incident, six students from Emaco Vision Primary School died, while 23 others were injured by lightning in their classrooms on October 17, 2018.
Stay tuned for further updates.
