Lightning strike wipes out 300 goats in Hiiraan area
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Beledweyne (AX) – A striking bolt of lightning claimed the lives of around 300 goats in the Hiiraan region on Sunday, as reported by locals and authorities on Monday.
The tragedy unfolded in Teedaan village, nestled within the Mahaas district, following a string of heavy rains that drenched the Hiiraan region over the past few days.
Ali Abdi Amin, also known as Ali Afey, who owned the livestock, shared with the press that the lightning strike wiped out all the goats in a single stroke, leaving no survivors.
“There were 300 goats in the enclosure. The lightning struck them all at once, and we were preparing to relocate to other villages due to the rain after the onset of spring. The rain started pouring around nine in the evening, and that’s when disaster struck. It hit the goat enclosure, sending chills down our spines,” he recounted.
Ali Afey, a resilient figure in the community, highlighted that the livelihoods of three families, comprising 40 individuals, hinged on the livestock which now lie in ruin, leaving them with nothing.
“My son and I, along with another family, were the residents. With the loss of the goats, our only source of sustenance has vanished. Sadly, we didn’t have any camels or cows, just the goats who are no more,” lamented Ali Abdi Amin Ali Afey.
The El Nino-triggered floods that commenced last August uprooted 1.2 million individuals, and with the April-June Gu rainy period already underway, Somalia faces further challenges.
Since April 19th, the Gu rains have impacted over 124,150 people, resulting in the displacement of 5,100 individuals and the tragic loss of seven children’s lives. Jubaland, Hirshabelle, and South West states bear the brunt of the devastation.
