Avoiding lightning strikes during a thunderstorm

Photo: AP

THE death of a schoolgirl yesterday, who was reportedly killed by lightning while she was indoors at her home in Gua Musang, Kelantan, shows how important it is to avoid touching or using electrical devices during a thunderstorm (“Girl, 12, killed by lightning strike in Gua Musang”, The Star, Aug 16; online at bit.ly/star_strike).

She is believed to have been electrocuted by a lightning-caused surge of electricity that entered the house through the power line and transferred to her body while she was holding a charging handphone. By holding the phone, her body completed the circuit to the ground where all electrical current will flow.