Lightning kills three soccer players*

 From correspondents in Phnom Penh

July 01, 2008 03:23pm
Article from: Reuters

A LIGHTNING bolt killed three Cambodian soccer players and put three
others in hospital at a match played during a monsoon season thunderstorm.

The victims, all in their 20s, were taking part in a tournament
organised by the Government to introduce the game to youngsters and
ultimately to improve the strength of the national side, said Cambodia
Soccer Federation President Sao Sokha.

The freak incident yesterday in the South-East Asian nation's capital
prompted a warning to players and coaches not to take to the field while
thunderclouds loomed overhead - an almost daily occurence in the
May-October rainy season.

"We encourage children to play the game, but they should not do so
during bad weather," Sao Sokha said.

Keo Vy of of the National Disaster Committee said 40 people had been
killed nationwide by lightning so far this year, nearly as many as the
total killed for the whole of 2007.