Two students in Barangay Liburon, Carcar City, Cebu are currently recovering in the hospital after being struck by lightning on Thursday afternoon.
The victims, identified as a Grade 10 and Grade 11 student, were hit by lightning while in an open field and were immediately rescued by responders, who rushed them to a nearby hospital.
Family members remain hopeful for their full recovery, though the students collapsed on the spot after the lightning strike, losing strength instantly.
Lightning forms when electrically charged particles in storm clouds collide, creating a separation of positive and negative charges.
This buildup leads to an electrical discharge—lightning—that seeks to equalize the charges between the cloud and the ground or other clouds.
Lightning can be extremely dangerous, especially in open fields or areas with few tall objects, as it tends to strike the tallest point.
The possibility of being struck by lightning is rare, but it increases when exposed in open areas during thunderstorms.
Lightning strikes are intense, reaching temperatures as high as 30,000°C (54,000°F)—five times hotter than the surface of the sun.
To reduce the risk of being struck by lightning, experts advise staying indoors during thunderstorms, avoiding open fields, tall trees, or metal structures, and seeking shelter in a building or a vehicle.