As of early 2024, at least 160 people have died from lightning strikes in Yemen, with 22 fatalities reported in the last 48 hours, according to Ammar al-Harib, the head of the Supreme Committee for Emergency Response and Flood Damage.
During a committee meeting on Saturday, al-Harib stated, “The number of lightning-related deaths this year has surpassed 160, with 22 occurring in just the past two days.” He stressed the urgent need for relevant authorities to implement protective measures against lightning to reduce human casualties and damage, especially given the heavy rainfall Yemen has been experiencing this year.
“It is crucial to begin in the areas most affected, which are receiving substantial amounts of rain,” he asserted.
Since the start of August, precipitation levels have risen across various governorates in Yemen, leading to approximately 210 deaths due to torrential rains and associated lightning, particularly among those residing in displacement camps, as reported by United Nations statistics.
