A

soldier died and three others were injured when they were struck by lightning on Monday afternoon in the mountainous area of Bontomarannu district in Gowa, South Sulawesi.

Chief Warrant Officer Onik died and three other soldiers, Warrant Officer Andi Safri, Chief Sgt. Basri and First Cpl. Saiful, were injured.

The four soldiers, instructors at the Army’s officer school, were conducting a final check after a training session around the hills in Nirannuang village. When it began to rain, they took shelter in a farmer’s hut, authorities reported.

“The incident occurred as they were in the hut,” Military Regional Command (Kodam) XIV/Hasanuddin spokesman Col. Alamsyah said as quoted by kompas.com on Tuesday.

The three injured soldiers are being treated at Pelamonia Hospital in the provincial capital of Makassar, while Onik’s body was sent to a funeral home in Matallo village in Bontomarannu.

Alamsyah said all officer school attendees had returned safely to headquarters before the incident.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) previously warned of possible heavy rain and strong winds this week in a number of regions, including in Gowa regency.