TWO farmers were killed while another was injured in a lightning strike in the hinterlands of Zamboanga Sibugay province, the police said Friday, June 15.

Chief Inspector Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, identified the fatalities as Ranilo Navarro Sr., 49, and Michael Castillo, 27.

Critically injured and hospitalized was Eric Dela Cruz, 22.

Galvez said the incident happened around 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Bulawan village, Payao.

The police officer said investigation showed that before the incident, the victims were working in a rice field and decided to take shelter in a hut due to heavy downpour.

She said lightning suddenly hit the hut that resulted to the death of Navarro and Castillo while Dela Cruz was injured. (SunStar Philippines)