Lightning strikes kill thousands globally each year, but for those who survive, the storm is far from over

Each year, approximately 6,000 to 24,000 individuals lose their lives due to lightning strikes worldwide, with a significantly larger number sustaining injuries. The variation in these statistics stems from the limited and incomplete data available. The author, a lightning researcher at the University of North Dakota, specializes in both the physics of lightning and its effects on people.

While the underlying principles remain consistent regardless of location, the consequences can differ greatly depending on the region. Research on the health implications of lightning strikes is scarce, particularly in the United States, yet in Central Africa, a region known for its high frequency of lightning activity, knowledge about who is struck and the aftermath is nearly nonexistent.

To rectify this, the author has collaborated with the African Centers for Lightning and Education Network, a nonprofit organization focused on reducing lightning-related deaths, injuries, and property damage across Africa, to compile the most extensive publicly accessible database of lightning casualties on the continent. Data collection began in January 2018, encompassing 46 out of Africa's 54 countries, and has since amassed over 2,100 entries as of June 2026.

Utilizing this information, the author aims to gain a deeper understanding of the circumstances surrounding these fatalities and injuries. Due to factors such as insufficient internet access, civil unrest, and cultural beliefs that attribute lightning strikes to supernatural forces, many lightning incidents remain unreported, particularly in the Global South.

Additionally, language barriers pose a challenge in tracking news reports of lightning strikes globally, as the African continent alone boasts over 75 languages, each spoken by more than a million people, and hundreds more in smaller populations. Africa experiences an average of 2 million to 4 million lightning strikes annually.

Near the equator, the Congo Basin receives consistent solar heating throughout the year, as the water vapor from the Congo rainforest, the world's second-largest rainforest after the Amazon, continuously fuels warm, moist air from the Gulf of Guinea. The Adamawa Plateau and Cameroon Highlands further intensify this air, resulting in some of the most electrically active thunderstorms on Earth.

However, the sheer frequency of lightning in this region cannot solely account for the high number of injuries and fatalities in Africa. The crux of the issue lies in exposure and vulnerability. To better comprehend where lightning poses the greatest threat, the author's team developed a method to quantify and compare risk across countries.

They assigned a risk score to each country based on three factors: the number of lightning strikes, the proportion of people injured or killed relative to the population (exposure), and the population's vulnerability, measured by gross domestic product per capita according to the World Bank. By multiplying these scores, they derive an overall risk score.

Of the 15 African countries where the author and their team have sufficient data to calculate risk, 14 fall into either high or very high lightning-risk categories. The exception is South Africa, where lightning hazard is moderate, vulnerability is low, and a robust lightning research team has facilitated safety improvements. The greater number of reported lightning incidents in South Africa can be attributed to the country's robust reporting systems, extensive media coverage, and predominantly English-speaking population, facilitating easier documentation and dissemination of incidents.

A recent study from the author's team revealed that 87% of lightning fatality incidents in Africa involve multiple victims, compared to less than 10% in developed countries. This disparity is significant when compared to developed nations like the United States, where the National Lightning Safety Council reports that 517 people died from lightning strikes between 2006 and 2025.

Historical data estimates that over 90% of those struck by lightning survive in the U.S., likely due to the availability of lightning-safe buildings and vehicles and prompt access to emergency care. However, in Africa, approximately half of lightning incidents occur indoors, rendering the common safety advice, "When thunder roars, go indoors," ineffective.

Most buildings, including schools, homes, churches, and marketplaces, lack proper lightning-safe designs and maintenance. Even when available, a single arrester may not meet international standards and may not be designed to protect an entire building. Beyond collecting data on lightning strikes, the author's team also conducts interviews with survivors to gain insights into the health effects of being struck by lightning.

One survivor, a nurse, recounted that she was vaccinating children at a primary school when she was struck by lightning, causing her to be thrown through a classroom window. Her clothes set ablaze, and she lost consciousness, sustaining injuries ranging from chronic pain, partial paralysis in her legs, and memory loss. Before the strike, she was a healthy and active nurse, but now she struggles to walk and has had to leave her job.

Another incident, occurring 10 years later, resulted in the killing of 18 children and injuries to 38 others in the same classroom where the author had previously interviewed survivors.