lightning
Two men were killed by lightning on Saturday in Battambang province's Ek Phnom and Sangke districts, bringing the total dead from lighting strikes to 16 this year thus far.

Battambang provincial police said the first to die was a 21-year-old man from Ek Phnom district's Prek Loung commune. He was walking out his home when lighting struck him.

In another case, a 54-year-old man in Sangke district's Raing Kesei commune was riding a motorcycle during rain to visit his rice field when he was hit by lightning.

Keo Vy, a spokesman for the National Committee for Disaster Management, said yesterday that since January, 16 people were killed by lightning, nine were injured and eight cattle were also killed.

"The natural phenomenon such as storms and lightning usually happens while the season changes from the dry season to the rainy season," he said.

Mr Vy advised people to be careful and avoid lightning by staying indoors during the changes of season. He also advised people to not use phones, radios or other electronic devices during storms, and to not stay under trees.