Lightning kills three C. Java farmers this rainy season

The death of a 32-year-old woman on Sunday brings the number of farmers killed by lightning in Central Java in recent months to three.

Siti Nuraeni, a resident of Kaliori subdistrict, was struck and killed by lightning on Sunday while working in a rice field besides her husband, according to Suharso, the head of Rembang district’s national unity, political and security affairs office.

In previous months two other farmers, Kasim, 48, a resident of the same subdistrict, and Ngatimin, 57, a resident of Rembang subdistrict, were also killed by the lightning in separate incidents, Suharso said on Monday as reported by antaranews.com.

"The two subdistricts have been officially declared as lightning-prone zones. The authorities have repeatedly warned residents to be alert during the rainy season," Suharso said.

The three victims might have not heard or ignored warnings not to work in open fields even during light rain, he added.