Six members of a family, including four children, died after their home was struck by lightning during heavy rain in northwestern Uganda, police said.
West Nile Regional Police spokesperson Josephine Angucia said the lightning strike hit the family’s house in Maracha District.
Local authorities said the incident triggered a fire that quickly spread and completely destroyed the home.
The Oleba Town Council said in a statement that all victims were asleep inside the house when the incident occurred and were unable to escape before the flames engulfed the building.
“The fire spread rapidly, destroying the house and claiming their lives before any rescue efforts could be carried out,” the statement said.
Police confirmed that the victims comprised a couple and their four children.
Angucia said a team of police forensic experts had been sent to the scene to conduct further investigations into the incident.
