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22 December 2005

Lightening strike kills 11 during Malawi church service

Frank Jomo
Blantyre, Malawi (ENI). Violent lightening and heavy rains, which normally bring joy at the beginning of the wet season, have triggered the deaths of 12 people in church accidents during a two-day period in Malawi's northern Mzimba district.

The most recent accident occurred on 18 December. A child was killed and 38 people at Jandalala Roman Catholic church in Mzimba sustained injuries when the walls of their church collapsed on them after the roof was whipped off by heavy winds.

"The report we got says the strong winds and hailstorm later led to walls collapsing on the people as they stampeded for safety after Sunday mass. Thirty-eight people were rushed to the hospital for treatment and one child died instantly," said Rev. Clement Gondwe of Mzimba. He said the people had remained in the church for a meeting to discuss a programme for the Christmas period after the service.

Richard Luhanga of the police in Mzimba said that on 17 December 11 people from the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) in Chiseng'ezi Church in the same district were struck dead by lightening while attending a church service. Five others were seriously injured and are in critical condition at the district hospital.

Those attending the service were mostly young people who had gathered for a yearly meeting, which takes place before Christmas to strategize on activities for the festive period. While they were at the church a violent thunderstorm ensued.

"The lightening struck, killing all 11 at once. We are totally shocked by this tragedy," said the Rev. Joseph Mwale a Presbyterian minister from a nearby church.

The arrival of this year's rains had raised the hopes of many in Malawi following erratic rains last year that resulted in some chronic food shortages. But now the rains are so heavy they are causing havoc.

Reports in local newspapers have said people from the lakeshore district of Mangochi in southern Malawi have taken refuge in churches and schools after lashing rains washed their homes away at the weekend.

© 1994 - 2006 Ecumenical News International.

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