BUTUAN CITY — A 57-year-old woman died after being struck by lightning while preparing to dry sacks of harvested rice in Barangay Maguinda, Butuan City, on Sunday afternoon, October 25, 2026.
The victim, identified only by the alias Nita, was a farmer and a resident of Purok 19, Dagohoy, Barangay Maguinda. She was living with her partner at the time of the incident.
According to the police investigation, the victim’s partner told authorities that Nita had stepped out of their makeshift shelter to spread sacks of rice in an open, vacant lot. However, the weather suddenly changed, and lightning struck while she was outside, leaving her unconscious and unresponsive.
Nita sustained fatal injuries from the lightning strike. She was immediately rushed to Butuan Medical Center for emergency medical treatment, but doctors were unable to save her life. Her death was confirmed at around 5 p.m. by her attending physician, Dr. Nedllyod T. Gumahad.
Following the incident, the victim’s remains were brought back to their residence, where her family members prepared to receive mourners and grieve their loss.
The tragedy has left the victim’s family devastated. In an emotional social media post, her son expressed his anguish over his mother’s sudden death, saying that lightning had taken her life and appealing to the Lord in his grief.
The incident serves as a painful reminder of the dangers posed by sudden thunderstorms, particularly for farmers and rural residents who work in open areas. During thunderstorms, people are advised to seek shelter inside a substantial, fully enclosed building or a hard-topped vehicle and avoid open fields, isolated trees, and other exposed locations. Outdoor work should be postponed when thunderstorms threaten.