Lightning fatally strikes farmer in Cagayan, Philippines

Ronald Palomares was killed after a lightning struck him while attending to his rice field amid heavy rains in Zone 5, Brgy. Nangalinan, Baggao, Cagayan on Thursday afternoon, July 14.

By Edward Era Barbacena

 A farmer was killed after a lightning struck him while attending to his rice field amid heavy rains in Zone 5, Brgy. Nangalinan, Baggao, Cagayan on Thursday afternoon, July 14.

The incident occurred around 4 p.m. but was reported only at 7:00 p.m.

The victim was identified as Ronald Palomares, 43, a resident of San Jose, Baggao, Cagayan.

Based on the initial investigation, the victim went to his rice field to do some farm chores when a heavy downpour occurred.

Lightning also began.

There were other farmers in the field but all of them opted to go home for fear of lightning.

Only the victim preferred to stay.

The residents saw a lightning strike and hit the rice field.

When the rain and lightning stopped, farmer Samuel Pacquing went back to the rice field and saw the victim submerged on the water facing the ground.

Pacquing reported the incident to Brgy Captain Gilberto Respicio.

An ocular investigation was immediately conducted and investigators found out that the victim bore no external injuries.

The victim was brought to Baggao District Hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician, according to investigator-on- case Corporal Jennijohn C. Somera.