At least five people died and two others sustained injuries after they were struck by lightning in Western Lakes State's Aloor County on Wednesday.

“The rains were very heavy yesterday until lightning killed five people in Amethic area, three women and two children. Two people have survived,” Western Lakes State information minister Martin Gula told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday.

Gula urged humanitarian organisations to support the communities with lighting arresters to avoid further deaths from strikes especially now as the rainy season continues.

At the beginning of the month, two people were killed and four others injured after their house was struck by lightning in the same area of Aloor county.

The area is prone to lightning causing deaths of both people and livestock yearly.