Lightning strikes: The lurking threat in Thailand’s rainy season

With the official onset of the Thai rainy season on Friday, people are preparing for torrential downpours, floods and horrific traffic. But beyond these familiar problems lies another danger that is often overlooked – lightning strikes.

Despite frequent reports of lightning-related incidents, the risks are still widely disregarded by the public. Statistics from the Department of Disease Control show that 283 people across Thailand were struck by lightning from 2020 to 2024, many of them dying on the spot.

This year alone has already seen several such tragic incidents.

On May 11, a 4th-year engineering student and his aunt were killed by a bolt of lightning while sheltering in a hut at a cassava plantation in Lampang province. The student, Nawarith Khuanjai, who was also vice president of the student organisation at his Lampang Rajabhat University, had gone to the farm to help his family. When a thunderstorm suddenly broke as he and his aunt were heading home, the two rushed to the nearest refuge, only for it to be struck.

On May 8, a 30-year-old expectant mother was killed by lightning in Uthai Thani province. She and her husband were packing up their gear after a fishing trip at a local retention pond when a severe storm erupted. They took shelter under a tree, which was subsequently hit by a direct strike. The woman died immediately, while her husband sustained severe injuries that left one side of his body temporarily paralysed.

“My body went numb after the lightning struck,” the husband, Anon Tippawan, told local media from his hospital bed.

In the latest incident on May 12, Sompong Srinon was tending his rice farm in Roi Et province when black clouds unleashed their electric fury. Flung to the ground by the force of the bolt, he somehow escaped with only minor injuries.

How to avoid being struck

Accustomed to its regular appearance during the rainy season, people often fail to recognise just how dangerous lightning can be.

However, you can cut your chances of being struck by observing a few simple rules.

One of the most common mistakes during thunderstorms is taking shelter under large trees. Lightning usually strikes the tallest object in an area, and the electric current can jump horizontally to people sheltering nearby in what’s known as a “side flash”.

Authorities repeatedly warn that open fields, bodies of water, isolated trees and temporary outdoor shelters such as huts are particularly dangerous during thunderstorms.

Simple rules

The meteorological office and disaster prevention agencies encourage people to check the weather forecast before leaving home during the monsoon season.

Outdoor activities should be avoided if thunderstorms are forecast. Find a fully enclosed, permanent building if there are signs of a thunderstorm while you are outdoors.

Safety experts recommend following the 30-30 rule. Count the seconds between seeing a lightning flash and hearing thunder. If the count is 30 seconds or less, move to a safe location – like a sturdy building or fully enclosed vehicle – immediately. The second 30 refers to the number of minutes you should wait after the last lightning flash or thunderclap before leaving your shelter and venturing outdoors. The start and end of a storm are often the most unpredictable and dangerous periods for lightning activity.

To minimise lightning risk if you are caught in the open with no shelter available:

• Crouch low to the ground

• Tuck your head between your knees

• Cover your ears with your hands to protect your hearing from thunderclaps

• Minimise ground contact by balancing on the balls of your feet

• Never lie flat on the ground as lethal electric currents can travel across the surface after a strike

Safer indoors – but not risk-free

Precautions should be taken even if you are inside a building during a severe thunderstorm. People are advised to avoid contact with running water, as water is a good conductor of electricity and lightning can travel through pipes during thunderstorms. Hence, bathing, washing dishes or touching taps can be risky.

Electrical appliances should also be avoided as lightning currents can surge through wiring, television cables and metal pipes embedded in concrete floors or walls. Do not use plugged-in equipment such as desktop computers, washers or stoves. Finally, stay away from windows, doors, balconies and outer walls until the storm passes.

With Thailand set to experience regular thunderstorms for the next few months, authorities are urging the public not to ignore the dangers of lightning. A few small precautions can mean the difference between life and death.

By Thai PBS World’s General Desk