Lightning kills 2 fishermen in 4 days in Vietnam’s Da Nang

The first victim, Do Van Phuong, 42, from Hiep Thanh Hamlet in Nui Thanh Commune, was struck by lightning while fishing from a boat on the Truong Giang River near Tam Giang Bridge on the evening of October 9.

The strike caused him to fall into the water and die, according to local authorities.

The second victim, Tran Van Dao, from Sam Linh Hamlet in the same commune, was killed by lightning while fishing on the same river on Tuesday afternoon.

Bui Van Chanh, head of the hydrometeorological forecasting division under the Central Regional Hydro-Meteorological Station, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper that thunderstorms and lightning result from atmospheric convection, which can be triggered by heating of the earth’s surface during summer.

Interactions between large air masses can also trigger thunderstorms and lightning.

Atmospheric convection forms thunderclouds carrying opposite electrical charges, leading to electrical discharges that produce lightning, he added.

Da Nang experienced several interacting weather systems from October 10 to 13, including the southern edge of a continually strengthened continental cold high-pressure system, the northern edge of the intertropical convergence zone extending across the south-central coast, and moderately strong easterly winds in the upper atmosphere.

The repeated strengthening of this cold high-pressure system pushed warm air upward, destabilizing the atmosphere, while moist air carried inland from the sea by easterly winds further enhanced convection.

Together, these factors favored thunderstorm development, Chanh explained.

Thunderstorms and lightning are common in tropical regions such as central Vietnam, particularly during seasonal transitions and the rainy season, he noted.

Long-term observations show that lowland areas experience an average of 14.5 days with thunderstorms in October, indicating that the recent storms in Da Nang were not unusual.

Chanh warned that thunderstorms can develop rapidly and urged residents to seek shelter as soon as they notice signs of an approaching storm, including rapidly growing storm clouds, sudden changes in wind direction, strong gusts or distant thunder.

People should take shelter in sturdy buildings and stay away from tall trees, power poles, telecommunications towers, metal structures, high-voltage power lines, open fields and electrical substations.

They should also limit the use of electrical appliances and signal-transmitting devices and avoid staying near windows or water pipes during thunderstorms.

Outdoor activities at sea, on rivers and lakes, in rice fields, at construction sites and in other exposed areas should be suspended during thunderstorms.

Residents should resume outdoor activities only after at least 30 minutes have passed since the last thunderclap, Chanh advised.

He stressed that people should not wait until lightning strikes nearby before seeking shelter.

He also urged residents to monitor official weather forecasts and warnings and follow instructions from the authorities.

Nui Thanh Commune authorities said on Wednesday that they are stepping up public awareness campaigns on thunderstorm safety, particularly among fishermen who regularly work on the Truong Giang River.

The campaign encourages residents to monitor weather forecasts closely, stop fishing and bring their boats ashore or seek safe shelter as soon as thunderstorms approach.

Local authorities also warned fishermen against remaining in boats in the middle of the river during dangerous weather and urged them to carry essential communication and life-saving equipment to protect their lives and property.