The incidents occurred in the subdistricts of Rembang (one) and Kaliori (two), Suharso, head of Rembang district's national unity, political and security office, said on Monday.
"The two subdistricts are actually zones that have been officially declared lightning-prone and the authorities have many times warned residents to observe caution during the rainy season and avoid the danger by staying indoors," he said.
The three farmers apparently did not know about or perhaps ignored the warnings and went to work in their rice fields although it was drizzling and there were occasional lightning strikes, he said.
The latest lighting victim was Siti Nuraeni (32), a resident of Kaliori subdistrict who was struck while tending the plants in a rice paddy beside her husband on Sunday (Dec 25) afternoon.
Earlier, on Sunday (Nov 6), a peasant in the same dubdistrict, Kasim (48) was also killed by lightning while planting rice. Fourteen days later, in Rembang subdistrict, farmer Ngatimin (57) also lost his life after a bolt of lightning hit him while he was working in the field.
With the arrival of the present rainy season, the local authorities in the two subdistricts had again called on local residents, especially farmers and fishermen, to step up vigilance against the danger of lighting strikes and avoid being in wide open spaces when it was raining. (HAJM)
Editor: Ade P Marboen
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
