Nov. 29, 2004
Sky News

Seven members of the same family have been killed when their hut was struck by lightning in South Africa.

Three children and a nine-month-old baby were among those who died.

The family were sheltering against a thunderstorm at the Mombheni reserve when the lightning struck.

Two people survived.

"Seven people from one family, three adults and four children, including a nine month-old baby were killed when their home was struck last (Sunday) night," a police spokesman said.

"They have been burnt to ashes."

Police could not give details on the survivors.

The region, which lies about 340 miles southeast of Johannesburg, had been hit by two nights of heavy storms on the weekend.

Thunderstorms are a regular feature during South Africa's summer rainfall season and lightning kills dozens of people every year.

One lightning strike in 2001 killed 13 people in KwaZulu-Natal.

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13257507,00.html