Lightning strike halts football tournament

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A football tournament of the Rotary Club of Bacolod was temporarily suspended following a lightning strike that hit an acacia tree at Manuel Y. Torres Sports Center in Barangay Balingasag, Bago City, Negros Occidental last Sunday.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, Bago City police chief, said the lightning bounced to the ground after hitting a tree, but no injuries were reported.

However, players and viewers were shocked when a fire occurred due to the impact of the lightning on the acacia tree.

Malong said that Charlie Panes, 24, of Barangay Lag-asan, a football referee, was taken to a hospital after he suffered cramps and difficulty of breathing.

Panes is now stable at Bago City Hospital, she added.