Kisangani, April 18th, 2025 (CPA) – Six (6) of the thirteen (13) women vendors struck by lightning at the Balese market, located in the Mangobo commune in Kisangani, capital of Tshopo province, in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, died on the spot on Friday, CPA learns from a local source. ‘Thirteen women vendors were struck by lightning, but six of them died instantly. The dead included five adults and a young girl. The other women who survived were taken to the nearest medical facilities for appropriate treatment’, said Thierry Londondo, chief of the Balese neighborhood in the Mangobo municipality. He went on to say that the bodies of the victims had been handed over to their families, adding that the state of health of the survivors gave reason to hope for a recovery.
‘In the Kandophar medical unit, there are five survivors and two are in the William clinic. According to the head of Kandophar, the prognosis for four of the survivors is good, but one is in a critical condition. Despite this, he reassured them that he will do his utmost and everything will be fine. And at the William Clinic, there is also hope’, he added. The incident occurred on Friday afternoon, when torrential rain fell over a large part of the city of Kisangani. The last case of death by lightning in this city dates back to January 7th, 2025, when four people were killed and several others injured in similar circumstances.
ACP/