CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — A tragic lightning strike claimed the lives of a farmer and his nephew during their noontime coffee break inside their home in Sitio Mabuhay, Barangay Tipoloon, Claveria, Misamis Oriental, Thursday afternoon.

According to the Claveria community police precinct, the victims were identified as Santiago Maunay, a farmer, and his 14-year-old nephew, also surnamed Maunay. They were electrocuted when lightning struck through an open space in their roof and hit the spoons they were holding.

Investigations revealed that the two were having coffee in their dining area amid heavy rain and a severe thunderstorm, which had reduced visibility to nearly zero in their mountain village.

While waiting for the storm to pass, Santiago reached for a spoon to stir his coffee when a sudden flash of lightning struck the roof and passed through, electrocuting both men who were sitting side by side at the table.

The force of the strike threw them from their seats. Barangay rescue units quickly rushed them to a hospital located two hours from the accident site.

Sadly, both victims sustained severe burns and were declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.