Lightning strike kills pupils, teacher

A lightning strike has killed five people, including four school children in western Tanzania. Photo: Daniel Hayduk

A lightning strike has killed six school children and their teacher in western Tanzania. Photo: Daniel Hayduk

Six school children and their teacher have been killed after lightning struck their school in Kigoma region.

“Lightning struck a classroom at Nyakasanda village,” says Kasulu district local leader William Lituhi.

Initial reports were that four students and a teacher were killed, while a statement from the President’s office raised the number to six students and a teacher.

The date of the incident is also in dispute, with local officials saying it happened Monday and the President’s office in Dar es Salaam saying it happened over the weekend.

The statement confirms 11 other school-children were injured in the fatal strike.

The children killed were all age 11 to 14.

President Jakaya Kikwete says he is ‘shocked and saddened’ by the incident.

 

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