A bolt of lightning struck and killed 24 head of cattle in Leer County’s Juong Payam in Unity State in the wee hours of Monday morning.
According to the local authorities, the lightning struck when it rained for four hours after a dry spell that lasted 15 days.
Kawai Gatluak Diu, the owner of the cattle, told Radio Tamazuj Monday that the incident occurred at 12:30 a.m. and the lightning burnt the thatch of the luak (cow shed) where the cows were.
“There was a drizzle around Juong Payam and a bolt of lightning struck the animals dead inside the luak. The lightning burned all the 24 cows and the grass roof of the luak,” he said. “This is the first time such a thing has happened in our area.”
For his part, Leer County Acting Commissioner Gatyiek Lityang confirmed the incident and expressed sadness.
“It happened on Monday morning here at Juong. Lightning killed 24 cows when they had just entered inside the luak because it was drizzling,” he explained. “As soon as the cattle entered, lightning struck killing 24 of them and burning the luak. Everything in the luak got burnt apart from a mattress.”
“This could have happened due to the dry spell that has lasted for nearly 15 days,” Lityang added.