At least 14 people have been killed in Bangladesh after a series of lightning strikes, with a 10-year-old boy among the dead, authorities have confirmed.
Officials said most of the victims were farmers and outdoor workers who were caught in open fields when the storms hit.
In one incident reported by local media, the young boy was killed alongside two others after lightning struck near his home.
The strikes came as seasonal storms and heavy rain swept across several parts of the country, including the capital Dhaka.
Several others were also injured, with some said to be in critical condition in hospital.
Bangladesh experiences frequent lightning-related deaths, especially during the pre-monsoon period between April and June when heat and humidity build rapidly and trigger unstable weather conditions.
Experts have linked the rising death toll in recent years to environmental changes, including deforestation.
With fewer tall trees in rural areas, there are fewer natural “lightning conductors,” leaving people more exposed in open spaces.
The country officially classified lightning strikes as a natural disaster in 2016 after a particularly deadly spell of storms killed more than 200 people in a single month, including dozens on one day alone.
As the latest fatalities are recorded, authorities are once again warning residents especially farmers and outdoor workers to take shelter quickly when storms approach.
