In a heart-wrenching event, a two-year-old child and their father tragically lost their lives due to a lightning strike that left the mother critically injured in Kapiri Mposhi.

The devastating incident unfolded in the Sixteen area around 01:00 hours yesterday, claiming the lives of the father, Maybin Musonda, 26, and his son, Clifford, as the lightning struck the house where they were sleeping.

Identified by Kapiri Mposhi District Commissioner Francis Hasalama, this heartbreaking event has left a profound impact on the community.

The mother is currently receiving treatment at Lukomba Rural Health Centre following the tragic incident. According to Mr. Hasalama, the family was asleep when a sudden downpour in the area led to their house being struck by lightning.

Tragically, the man and his two-year-old son lost their lives instantly, while miraculously, the mother survived the devastating event.

As of press time, preparations were underway, coordinated by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), for the burial of the victims, whose bodies were tragically charred beyond recognition due to the lightning strike.

In response to several recent lightning incidents, notably in Luapula Province over the past weeks, Police Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga expressed their commitment to exploring measures to safeguard and prioritize the safety of community members against such tragedies.