Lightning hits cell phone, kills 2 men in South Cotabato

KORONADAL CITY – Two workers of a multinational firm in Surallah, South Cotabato were killed when they were struck by lightning on Sunday.

Chief Inspector Joel Fuerte, Surallah town police chief, identified the victims as Danny Danao, 23 of Barangay (village) Kusan, Banga town and Nestor Feller, 38, of Barangay Dajay, Surallah town, both in South Cotabato.

Both were workers of Sumifru Corporation, a banana production firm operating in South Cotabato.

The two were heading home from the day’s work at 6:30 p.m. and appeared to have braved the rain and a thunderstorm.

Citing investigation report, Fuerte said the two were riding on a motorbike  when lightning struck them.

Fuerte said witnesses told police investigators that one of the  victims was talking to someone on his mobile phone when his gadget was struck by lightning.

“It happened so quickly, witnesses saw flares in the victims’ bodies after the lightning struck,” he said.

Passersby rushed them to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead./rga

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