A couple was killed by a lightning strike in Svay Rieng province on Wednesday, while a mother and son suffered injuries due to a rainstorm in the same area.

Bavet town police chief Em Sovannarith told The Post on Thursday that Khan Nak, 45, and his wife Preab Sat, 38, were killed by lightning at around 5:30pm just as they were arriving home from work in Prasat commune.

“They died from a lightning strike, while they were riding a motorcycle back home from work in the rain. They were struck by lightning when they arrived at the gate of their house on motorcycle,” he said.

Sovannarith said a lighting strike also killed two cows in Bavet commune’s Bavet Kandal village during the same storm.

Svay Teab district police chief Keo Sophorn told The Post that on Wednesday, rainstorms in Sambor commune’s Prey Toteung village caused serious injuries to Sok Doeurk, 42, and her four-year-old son Saing Chantha.

“During the incident, the house collapsed while Doeurk and Chantha were inside. She [Doeurk] sustained serious injuries to her head and broke her right hand.

“Her son sustained three cuts on his head. Both mother and son are being treated at the Svay Rieng provincial hospital,” he said.

Three houses in the village were also damaged during the storm.

National Committee for Disaster Management spokesman Khun Sokha said on Thursday that based on reports from local authorities, lightning strikes have killed four people in three provinces this year – one each in Takeo and Pailin provinces, and two in Svay Rieng.

Rainstorms were responsible for the death of two people in Preah Sihanouk province, and caused injuries to seven more – two in Kampong Cham, three in Pursat and two in Svay Rieng provinces, Sokha said.