For people in Duqiao Town, Linhai City, Zhejiang Province, June 26, 2004 is a black day.
At more than 2 o'clock that afternoon, a huge lightning accident occurred in Duqiao Town. The lightning hit three big fir trees next to each other. More than 30 people were knocked down and 17 people died. Witnesses said that after the incident, they heard the shrill cry from afar, and the villagers looked uneasy. Under five big fir trees on the left side of a clearing surrounded by buildings, there are more than 10 bodies lying in disorder, their faces are gray and their skin is scorched. They either wear shoes or bare feet; A long bench and four or five umbrellas were overturned beside the corpse; Near the body, a colored plastic shed collapsed on the ground.
Lightning struck fir trees (picture source: Xinhuanet)
Pan Zongqi, an 18-year-old onlooker at that time, was also knocked down by lightning, but only suffered some minor injuries to his neck and left thigh, and was treated at the nearby Linhai Second People's Hospital. He recalled that he went to the scene to call his cousin back to do business. When I arrived at the scene, I saw a lot of people playing cards together, surrounded by three floors inside and three floors outside. The atmosphere was very warm. On his way to the scene, it began to rain and he heard the first loud thunder. About 10 minutes after arriving at the scene, there was a second thunder, and the tragedy happened at that time. Seeing that everyone fell to the ground, he quickly rolled away from the central area and was later sent to the hospital.
Local hospitals rescued farmers injured by lightning. (Photo source: Modern Gold News)
According to the villagers at that time, they have been playing cards under these fir trees for at least a month. After the accident, the 110 command center also received a public alarm, and all police cars and ambulances sent people to the hospital. After being struck by lightning, many patients suffered from serious head swelling, clothes cracking and body surface injuries. The medical expert said, "After the lightning stroke, the function of the patient's skin, muscles, viscera and even brain has been damaged or even necrotic. This is the reason why people will die after being struck by lightning.".
More than 30 people were killed and injured in this lightning strike in Duqiao Town, mainly because there was not too much rain at that time, so that people outside did not raise their vigilance and return to their houses in time, which led to consequences. In addition, many people lack the common sense to prevent thunder and lightning. For example, in a thunderstorm, you should not shelter from rain under a tree, let alone play cards under a tree.
