Cambodia lightning strike deaths drop 48 pct in H1 2026

Lightning strikes killed 16 people in Cambodia during the first half of 2026, a 48 percent drop from the 31 deaths recorded during the same period last year, a disaster control spokesperson said Wednesday.

National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) spokesperson Soth Kim Kolmony said that in addition to causing human fatalities, lightning strikes injured 18 others and killed nine cattle between January and June of this year.

He attributed the decline in casualties to improved public awareness regarding lightning safety during heavy rain.

"To prevent lightning injuries, people, especially those in rural areas, should stay inside houses or shelters during storms or rain," Kolmony told Xinhua.

The spokesperson said that besides the casualties from lightning strikes, storms also claimed three human lives and injured nine others during the first half of the year.

xinhua