Four women and one child were killed by a lightning strike while watching a futsal match at a Myanmar military base in Tanintharyi region yesterday, according to DVB.
At least 10 people were injured during the incident around 5pm at the Myeik Air Base, a relative of one of the victims told the news outlet.
The ball sport is usually played on a hard court smaller than a football pitch and mainly indoors. It remains unclear whether the victims, who have not been identified, were killed by lightning bolts or a possible subsequent crash caused by them.
The victims were relatives of military personnel, according to the DVB report, which added that the injured were taken to a No 5 Military Hospital in Mon state.
The accident also raises questions over whether the tournament was adhering to Myanmar’s Covid-19 regulations, which ban mass gatherings.
Dozens of people die every year in Myanmar due to lightning, particularly during the beginning of monsoon, between May and September, when thunderstorms and lightning are more regular.
