BANTEN RESIDENTS WARNED OF LIGHTNING STRIKES

Serang, Banten, March 6 (ANTARA) - The Banten meteorology and geophysics agency (BMG) has warned local residents of the possibility of torrential rains and lightning strikes in the coming days.

Abdul Halim of Banten's BMG said here Saturday that heavy rains and thunder storms have been hitting the province over the past few days.

The local people needed to protect themselves from the danger of lightning and whirlwinds by sheltering in safe places, he said.

"If torrential rains fall, the safest place is staying at home," he said, adding lightning and whirlwinds could occur in the areas of Cilegon town, as well as Lebak, Pandeglang and northern Serang districts.

The Serang and Cilegon regions had recently been hit by lightning and whirlwinds, Halim said.

A woman, Iyah, was recently hit by lightning but the 50-year-old resident of Cijaku sub-district, Lebak district, survived after being hospitalized at Malimping public hospital.

"A bolt of lightning hit me when watching TV. I was then rushed to the hospital," Iyah said.

Over the past two months, various parts of Indonesia have continuously been showered by heavy rains.

As a result, such natural disasters as floods and landslides threaten the areas.

On February 23, a landslide that hit the Dewata tea plantation in Tenjolaya village, Pasirjambu subdistrict, Bandung district, killed more than 40 people.

Among the dead victims were a number of the plantation's tea pickers.
(R013/A/HAJM/B003)
2. 23:10.