Besides the fatalities, thunderbolts had injured 44 others during the January-May period this year, slightly down from 48 injuries over the same period last year, said Keo Vy, the spokesman for the National Committee for Disaster Management.
"Lightning strikes occur every year, especially during the rainy season (from May to October)," he told Xinhua, adding that "to avoid the dangers of lightning strikes, people should stay inside houses or shelters when there is rain."
In addition to lightning casualties, storms had also claimed two lives and injured 35 others during the first five months of 2017, the spokesman said.
Comment: There could be many reasons this particular area of Antarctica is seeing greater moss growth. But it would be foolish to apply that to the entire planet. Other studies indicate the period of increased growth may be at an end.