Lightning protection during thunderstorms

Although the rainy season has just begun, there have been many cases of people being struck by lightning leading to death in some localities recently, including cases of lightning killing many people. To prevent lightning strikes, meteorological experts have issued warnings about weather phenomena that are prone to lightning strikes and preventive measures for people to take when there is thunder and lightning.

A thunderstorm in Yen Bai province on the morning of May 1, 2024, left one person dead. (Photo: QUANG HUNG)

According to the Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change, the number of storms in the 2024 rainy season from May to July is lower than the average of many years. However, since the beginning of the year, there have been many heavy, prolonged rains with complex developments accompanied by thunderstorms, followed by lightning that has caused damage to people and property.

On May 19, 2024 alone, heavy thunderstorms and unstable weather conditions occurred throughout the Northern provinces, causing three people to be struck by lightning and die. The three victims were: Ms. LTN (born in 1962), struck by lightning while working in the fields in Yen Bang village, Dong Yen commune, Dong Son district, Thanh Hoa province; Ms. BTP (born in 2000), struck by lightning while traveling on the road connecting Thanh Hoa city to Nghi Son, Dong Tien commune, Trieu Son district, Thanh Hoa province; Mr. NVT (born in 1985, residing in Boi hamlet, Giao Phong commune) was struck by lightning while traveling through Giao Hai commune, Giao Thuy district, Nam Dinh province, resulting in his death.

Statistics from the Institute of Geophysics show that every year in our country there can be 2 million lightning strikes to the ground, some localities where lightning often appears are Hanoi, Hai Duong, Quang Nam and the provinces of the Mekong Delta. According to the Hydrometeorological Agency, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, thunderstorms are a meteorological phenomenon, including electrical discharges within the same cloud, between clouds or between clouds and the ground... creating lightning and thunder.

Lightning is an electrical discharge that occurs between clouds and the ground. Lightning can produce sparks and currents strong enough to kill people or burn down buildings. Lightning can strike almost anywhere, even before, during, and after rain, and can strike anything that has the right conditions to form a lightning strike.

Therefore, when there is heavy rain and thunderstorms, people need to find safe shelter, stay away from river areas and aquaculture areas to prevent lightning strikes. According to information from the Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention of Quang Ninh province, at about 5:00 a.m. on May 6, 2024, in Quang Yen town, there was a thunderstorm with thunder and lightning. At this time, Mr. NVN (45 years old) and his wife, Ms. HTH (residing in Bac village, Lien Vi commune, Quang Yen town) were fishing in the mangrove forest when they were struck by lightning. After the incident, Mr. N. died on the spot, and Ms. H. was injured.

According to forecasts, there will be about 11 to 13 storms in the East Sea in 2024, of which 5 to 7 storms may affect the mainland. Storm and tropical depression activity is likely to be concentrated in the second half of the storm season from September to November 2024.

Therefore, localities need to be proactive and promptly develop plans to prevent floods and storms, especially strengthen propaganda work so that people can proactively take measures to prevent risks and minimize damage, especially preventing thunderstorms. According to the experience of experts in the meteorological industry, when the rain is almost over and the clouds are low, lightning strikes the ground a lot and are dangerous.

People can recognize signs of an impending thunderstorm such as dark clouds, cold wind after a heat wave, the time when hot and cold air masses clash; when seeing signs of a thunderstorm, people should quickly return home. The safe area to avoid lightning is inside a building or office with a lightning protection system installed.

In case people are outdoors and encounter lightning and cannot return to a safe place, they should follow the rules of avoiding standing next to tall trees, avoiding standing in groups of people close together, avoiding high, open areas and not going into the water. When encountering lightning, people should not take shelter from the rain in huts, should not carry metal objects such as hoes, shovels... should not take shelter from the rain under lightning rods, antennas, electric poles, flagpoles, should not stand near or touch conductive objects such as water pipes, chimneys, wire fences, should not answer the phone including mobile phones, should not lie on the floor.

In addition, people should also pay attention to weather forecasts, observe when seeing thunderstorms and lightning, and limit going out on the street. When indoors, stay away from windows, doors, electrical appliances, and avoid damp places such as bathrooms, water tanks, and faucets. Unplug electrical appliances and TV antennas before a thunderstorm is about to occur.

THAI HUY

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