Among the natural disasters which cause tremendous damage to humankind is the stroke of lightning.
Last year, too, many people lost their lives and got injured by thunderbolts in many countries including Tanzania and Malawi.
Lightning struck amid a downpour killing 17 persons in Bihar in eastern India in a day in September. Most of them were reportedly farmworkers who had been working on fields.
In the country’s Uttar Pradesh, 39 persons were killed by thunderbolts in five days towards the end of September.
In a province in northern Yemen, six were killed and 17 others injured by a thunderbolt during a funeral.
Thunderbolts also cause serious material damage.
At 7 p.m. on August 5, a thunderbolt struck a tank containing 25 000 cubic metres of fuel among fuel tanks in a port city about 100 kilometres away from Havana, Cuba, resulting in a fire. The Cuban government had to mobilize a lot of manpower and equipment to put it out.
Generally, a thunderbolt is an electric spark caused by high potential difference between clouds charged with electricity and earth. When a thunderbolt erupts, the temperature of the flash is 10 000℃ which causes a flow of strong electric current. If a man, electrical equipment, structure or building is hit by a thunderbolt, it may cause a dangerous accident.
On the earth there are places where thunder days number 200 or over 20.
Lightning is a main cause of deaths and accidents by natural disasters in many countries.
It is common knowledge that the human body conducts electricity well.
According to data, during a thunderbolt, its electric current may flow into deep parts of the human body like the heart and brain to cause death or may touch the surface of the body to cause burns.
Therefore, it is necessary to make sure that people working outdoors are in buildings and don’t stand by a tall tree during a thunderbolt. As the top or ridge of a mountain is likely to be hit by a thunderbolt, it is necessary for people to go far away from there as soon as possible or shelter in dented places individually.
The loss of life by thunderbolt continuously occurs worldwide because people lack the relevant common knowledge or act without vigilance.
A lesson is that it is imperative to make people vigilant against damage in the period when thunderbolts hit frequently.
It is also an important lesson that if lightning arresters and conductors and overhead earth wires are not installed properly at electrical equipment and buildings and they are not checked and repaired on a regular basis, accidents by thunderbolts cannot be prevented.
Thorough measures should be taken to protect from thunderbolts electrical equipment in the compounds of power distribution stations and electricity substations, storage facilities of inflammable or explosive materials and important buildings.
Accidents by thunderbolts are not attributable to the heavens. Man is the master who should harness nature with a correct understanding of the laws of nature.
Therefore, thorough preventive steps can minimize damage by thunderbolts to humans and materials.
More From Pyongyang Times
Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the foreign policy line of his country in a diplomatic meeting on January 15. He
January 22, 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the foreign policy line of his country in a diplomatic meeting on January 15. He
With contagious diseases breaking out one after another across the world, a flu epidemic is rapidly spreading. The World Health
January 22, 2026
With contagious diseases breaking out one after another across the world, a flu epidemic is rapidly spreading. The World Health
Mountain villages in Jagang Province are turning into a fairyland. House-moving in Puji-ri of Songgan County, Ryongmun-ri of
January 22, 2026
Mountain villages in Jagang Province are turning into a fairyland. House-moving in Puji-ri of Songgan County, Ryongmun-ri of
A new catalyst production base has been built at the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex. The catalyst production base is another
January 22, 2026
A new catalyst production base has been built at the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex. The catalyst production base is another
With the implementation of the Regional Development 20x10 Policy of the Workers’ Party of Korea, regional-industry factories are
January 22, 2026
With the implementation of the Regional Development 20x10 Policy of the Workers’ Party of Korea, regional-industry factories are
The Youth Movement Museum marked the tenth anniversary of its founding. The respected fatherly Marshal Kim Jong Un personally
January 22, 2026
The Youth Movement Museum marked the tenth anniversary of its founding. The respected fatherly Marshal Kim Jong Un personally
It has been ten years since the Youth Movement Museum was opened to public to convey the Workers' Party of Korea's idea of
January 22, 2026
It has been ten years since the Youth Movement Museum was opened to public to convey the Workers' Party of Korea's idea of
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of Russia, posted an article on an SNS on January 12 to deride the US’ atte
January 21, 2026
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of Russia, posted an article on an SNS on January 12 to deride the US’ atte
Russia decided to deport a diplomat of the British embassy in the country. On January 15, the Russian Foreign Ministry called the
January 21, 2026
Russia decided to deport a diplomat of the British embassy in the country. On January 15, the Russian Foreign Ministry called the
Spectacular scenes of rural development have unfolded at several farms in Kangwon Province. Newly-built public and production
January 21, 2026
Spectacular scenes of rural development have unfolded at several farms in Kangwon Province. Newly-built public and production
The Academy of Forest Science has been built on a modern basis. The academy has all facilities and conditions, including an office
January 21, 2026
The Academy of Forest Science has been built on a modern basis. The academy has all facilities and conditions, including an office
The case of poisoning of Emperor Kojong is recorded as one of the violations of the sovereignty of Korea committed by the Japanese
January 21, 2026
The case of poisoning of Emperor Kojong is recorded as one of the violations of the sovereignty of Korea committed by the Japanese
Over the past five years since the Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, a new era of overall development has been
January 21, 2026
Over the past five years since the Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, a new era of overall development has been
A croaker pedigree farm has been built at the Ongjin West Sea Fish Farm. The pedigree farm has an office building, welfare
January 21, 2026
A croaker pedigree farm has been built at the Ongjin West Sea Fish Farm. The pedigree farm has an office building, welfare
The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea sent a congratulatory message to the 14th Congress of the Communist Party of
January 21, 2026
The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea sent a congratulatory message to the 14th Congress of the Communist Party of
The Ryongsong Machine Complex, where a flaming torch was lit to create the Chollima spirit in the new era, has turned into a
January 20, 2026
The Ryongsong Machine Complex, where a flaming torch was lit to create the Chollima spirit in the new era, has turned into a
Comrades,I express gratitude to the workers of Ryongsong, teachers and researchers from Kim Chaek University of Technology and Pyo
January 20, 2026
Comrades,I express gratitude to the workers of Ryongsong, teachers and researchers from Kim Chaek University of Technology and Pyo
The Mexican President said in a press conference on January 13 that her country would maintain a foreign policy based on equality
January 20, 2026
The Mexican President said in a press conference on January 13 that her country would maintain a foreign policy based on equality
The ideal socialist villages indicative of the Korean-style civilization of the countryside sprang up at the Chollisong Farm in
January 20, 2026
The ideal socialist villages indicative of the Korean-style civilization of the countryside sprang up at the Chollisong Farm in
The participants in the celebrations of the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League toured Pyongyang.
January 20, 2026
The participants in the celebrations of the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League toured Pyongyang.
More Articles