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85 goats killed after lightning storm hits War-qumayo village

Storyline:National News

At least 85 goats were killed by lightning following a week long heavy rains in areas under Jawiil district, residents and officials say.

The incident happened at War-Qumayo village as heavy rains were pounding, According to Omar Abdi resident of the area.

“We heard a heavy thunder clap and lightning seemed to fill our house. The next hour we were informed 80 goats killed. All the dead goats had burn marks on their stomachs. The surviving goats showed heavily swollen limbs.” He said.

He expressed worry over says the current occurrence of lightening in the area during rainy seasons because of the danger it poses to their livestock and families.

The residents, who live in the lightning hot spot, allege that over the past years over hundreds heads of cattle and goats have been killed by lightning with over ten thousand herds now in danger of being wiped out.

Jawiil district commissioner, Abdi Moalim Adan speaking to Goobjoog news said that heavy rains and lightening have caused great loss by washing away tens of houses and striking over eighty goats leaving the owner bare hands.

“Eighty five goats have been killed after scald water splashed by lightening luckily the young herders who were grazing the animals are save” he said.

Objects struck by lightning experience heat and magnetic forces of great magnitude.

The heat created by lightning currents travelling through a tree may vaporise its sap, causing an explosion that bursts the trunk.

Humans or animals struck by lightning may suffer severe injury due to internal organ and nervous system damage.

As lightning mostly seeks the highest structure that can relay the electric charge to the ground it is very important to keep livestock away from trees during a thunder storm.