New research shows the prevalence of lightning related deaths in developing nations. The agricultural, uneducated society contributes to the high fatality rate due to lightning. The high number of lightning-related deaths in nations like Malaysia, South Africa, India, and Bangladesh had previously been attributed to lack of education in the poor areas. However, recent research from doctors and meteorologists points to economies dependent on hard labor, poor infrastructure systems, and the tropical climate as the culprits of the trend.
In 2012, over 130 people were killed in Nepal from lightning storms. And the number of reported lightning related deaths in South Africa each year is worse: 260 people. However, India has the worst epidemic of deaths by lightning. Scientists estimate that 3,000 people die from lightning in India alone each year. In fact, in one storm in India last October killed 32 people. For comparison, the United States Weather Service reports that 73 people die of lightning strike per year in America.
In nations like India and South Africa, there is no true safe place for people to go during storms. Homes and work places (factories) do not provide safe havens during thunderstorms. Likewise, there are few safe, public buildings where villagers can wait out a storm. In addition, very few people in these nations own cars to hide in while a storm rages outside.
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