China: The record of 141 people died from lightning

Lightning claimed the lives of nearly 150 people in China last month, a record high since the figure was counted in 2000, according to the China Meteorological Agency (CMA). CMA said that a total of 141 cases were reported dead due to lightning strikes in July.

A senior Chinese meteorological official said global warming is the cause of the extreme weather this summer. More than 700 people died from floods in central China while millions of others were severely affected by the drought.

"Severe weather carries natural disasters such as storms, floods and droughts throughout the country this year," said CMA Director Trinh Quoc Quang.

The number of people in China who was struck by lightning was highest in July. (Photo: VNN)

According to Xinhua News Agency, in the most recent cases, about 50 people were thought to have died in northwestern Shanxi Province, following floods caused by heavy rains.

Xinhua quoted local government officials as saying that 23 people were confirmed dead and 26 others were missing. Meanwhile, nearly 40,000 people had to be relocated and in some areas, electricity was cut completely.

In other parts of China, meteorologists have issued the first warning of sunstroke this year.

It is forecasted that temperatures in southern China and Xinjiang in the west could reach 40 degrees Celsius. People are encouraged to avoid sunshine during peak hot hours. Previously, China Directive for Drought and Flood Control warned that serious drought has caused 7.53 million people to suffer from lack of drinking water.

The most severely affected areas are the northern provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the north and the southern provinces of Jiangxi and Hunan.

Thanh Hao