Two children were killed and two others injured when lightning struck them during a rain storm at their home in Deranle village, 16 kms west of Bal’ad town in Middle Shabelle.
Mohamed Bashir, a relative, told Radio Ergo the children were all members of the same family.
Meanwhile, there were reports of flooding in the villages of Barrey, Gunbe and Hanti-wadag in Mahadday along the River Shabelle.
A resident in Mahadday, Ali Afrah Dayib, told Radio Ergo the flooding had spread up to five kms from the river, displacing families from 46 houses in the area.
Ali Mohamud Mohamed, chief of Barrey village, seven km northeast of Jowhar, said the river broke its banks causing minor flooding. He said the residents had managed this time to erect makeshift flood barriers, but feared further flooding that would not be manageable without external assistance.
In 2013, the River Shabelle burst its banks and caused widespread flooding affecting thousands of people and destroying most of the crops.
