A tragic lightning strike at a refugee camp in Uganda’s northwestern region has claimed the lives of 13 children and one adult, according to police reports. The incident took place at Palabek Refugee Settlement on Saturday evening during a church service, where the community had gathered.

In addition to the fatalities, 34 people sustained injuries from the lightning strike. Uganda Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke confirmed that the adult victim was a 21-year-old, though he did not disclose the exact ages of the children who lost their lives.

The Palabek Refugee Settlement, housing over 80,000 refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from South Sudan, has recently been hit by heavy rains accompanied by thunder and lightning. This incident underscores the hazards that such weather poses to vulnerable communities in Uganda.

This is not the first time northern Uganda has suffered a fatal lightning incident. In 2020, a similar lightning strike in the nearby city of Arua killed 10 children who were struck while taking a break from a football game.

The UN’s refugee agency and local authorities are working to support those affected in the aftermath of this latest tragedy.