Tragedy on Boquilla Beach in Cartagena, Indiana Colombia: A 34-year-old woman was killed by lightning that hit her directly while walking by the sea. The tragedy was filmed by a swimmer using his smartphone. Despite the rescue efforts, nothing could be done for her: the woman was immediately treated by the medical staff who intervened on site and then taken to hospital, where she died shortly afterwards of a cardiovascular arrest. Before the tragedy, local authorities had issued onestorm warningand calls on citizens to take the necessary precautions.
The Venezuelan, mother of two children and owner of a clothing company, was on vacation there with her family. She had arrived in Cartagena the day before. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is a chance of being struck by lightning one in a million, but almost 90% of victims survive. According to a study by the Industrial University of Santander, Colombia is often exposed to electrical discharges due to the large number of mountains and plains in the territory. “These conditions,” the experts explained, “mean that Colombia is the region with the highest lightning activity in the world, increasing the number of deaths and injuries due to this phenomenon, especially in rural areas.”
