BUJUMBURA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least three schoolchildren died in a lightning strike that hit Kiziba Basic School on Thursday afternoon in Musigati district in western Burundi, a local source told Xinhua on Friday.
"The total number of people struck by lightning is 19, including 18 schoolchildren and their teacher. Three children died on the spot, while the rest were injured, most of them seriously," said Joachim Nduwumukama, administrator of Musigati district.
According to him, the lightning strike occurred at around 3:00 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) while the schoolchildren and their teacher were in class.
"Shortly after the incident, I visited the victims at Bubanza Hospital, where the 16 injured had been evacuated," he said, adding that no other damage was recorded during the incident. ■
