Dry-Season Lightning Ignites Deadly Fire
A bolt of lightning ripped through Wecpuot village in Akobo County before dawn on Sunday, igniting a cattle shelter and an adjacent tukul. The flames devoured 14 goats, family belongings and vital stores of sorghum, residents reported.
Children Rescued Amid Raging Flames
Children sleeping in the hut escaped unhurt, thanks to a frantic rescue led by neighbours who braved the heat and smoke. Buckets of water proved useless as the fire flared higher, scorching even the plastic containers.
Eyewitness Describes Fiery Spectacle
Witness Rebecca Nyatiek Majiok likened the strike to “a giant snake spitting fire” that coiled around the thatch roof before exploding. Such imagery, common in Nuer storytelling, reflects how rare dry-season thunderstorms unsettle local expectations.
Head of Household Appeals for Help
Household head Yat Ngunjock rushed back from Akobo town after a 3 a.m. call from his wife. “I have lost most of my belongings,” he said, urging well-wishers and aid agencies to help his family rebuild and restock livestock.
Myth Meets Meteorology
Some villagers evoked the mythical creature Mit, believed to ride lightning, to explain the unusual blaze. Yet local meteorologist James Dak attributes the incident to isolated convection cells that occasionally form even during the region’s dry spell.
Relief Assessment Under Way
County officials had not issued a statement by press time, but humanitarian workers on the Jonglei-Ethiopia border said preliminary assessments were under way. Relief teams are expected to deliver tarpaulins, food rations and veterinary supplies in the coming days.