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Risk of injury and death from lightning in Northern Malawi

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  • Jonathan Salerno
  • Lameck Msalu
  • Tim Caro
  • Monique Borgerhoff Mulder

Abstract

Rates of lightning mortality in communities on the western shore of Lake Malawi are higher than any other reported rate in the world: 419 strike victims per million people per annum and 84 deaths per million per annum. To document the background to this phenomenon, we conducted comprehensive household interviews with surviving victims and witnesses of every case of lightning strike in seven administrative areas around Nkhata Bay, Malawi. We find that the consequential lightning strikes are significantly more common in the rainy season and during the morning. Among those victims struck by lightning, there is an average ratio of approximately one death to four injuries, which is substantially higher than the commonly accepted ratio of 1:10. Children and adults are at equal risk of being struck. If struck, the probability of death is greater when the victim is outside in the open or outside under cover than indoors under a tin or thatched roof, but is unaffected by different kinds of footwear or whether it is raining. Reported explanations for strikes often center on witchcraft or other forms of social conflict. Our findings extend the study of consequential lightning strikes in the developing world and highlight cultural factors associated with this hazard. We end with recommendations for reducing the risk of lightning for rural populations. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan Salerno & Lameck Msalu & Tim Caro & Monique Borgerhoff Mulder, 2012. "Risk of injury and death from lightning in Northern Malawi," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 62(3), pages 853-862, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:62:y:2012:i:3:p:853-862
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-012-0113-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wenjuan Zhang & Qing Meng & Ming Ma & Yijun Zhang, 2011. "Lightning casualties and damages in China from 1997 to 2009," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 57(2), pages 465-476, May.
    2. Brian Mills & Dan Unrau & Laurel Pentelow & Kelsey Spring, 2010. "Assessment of lightning-related damage and disruption in Canada," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 52(2), pages 481-499, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Olga Petrucci & Paola Salvati & Luigi Aceto & Cinzia Bianchi & Angela Aurora Pasqua & Mauro Rossi & Fausto Guzzetti, 2017. "The Vulnerability of People to Damaging Hydrogeological Events in the Calabria Region (Southern Italy)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-28, December.
    2. T. M. Giannaros & K. Lagouvardos & V. Kotroni, 2017. "Performance evaluation of an operational lightning forecasting system in Europe," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 85(1), pages 1-18, January.

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