KAMPALA (BNO NEWS) -- At least 18 children died instantly and 36 others were injured when lightning struck a primary school in northern Uganda, the New Vision newspaper reported on Wednesday.

According to police, the students were in their classrooms waiting for the downpour to subside before going home when the lightning struck Runyanya Primary School in Kiryadongo district on Tuesday afternoon. The Kiryandongo Police commander, Patrick Byaruhanga, said police and hospital staff rushed to the scene and transferred the bodies and the injured, who suffered severe burns, to the hospital.

The district education officer, Edward Kirya, feared that the death toll could increase. He added that the situation at the hospital was chaotic, with the police struggling to keep away the parents who were trying to force themselves into the hospital.

The accident comes three days after lightning struck Bweyale Public primary school in the same district, injuring five students. In Zombo district, 37 children and two teachers were also injured when lightning struck their classroom earlier on Monday.

With Tuesday's tragedy, up to 40 people have been killed by lightning and many more injured in the past few weeks.

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