2010-07-20 23:53

JIUJIANG, Jiangxi - Two people were killed and more than ten injured Tuesday in Xingzi county of East China's Jiangxi province when lightning struck while they were standing atop a dike at Poyang Lake assisting in flood control efforts, authorities said.

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The dead and injured include workers, village cadres and police officers, said an official in Xingzi county's flood control office.

The injured were rushed to a local hospital following the lightning strike. Four severely wounded victims were transferred to a hospital with more advanced medical services in Jiujiang city, according to the office.

Continuous downpours have pelted many parts of China in recent days, raising water levels in lakes along the Yangtze River, including Poyang Lake, to alarmingly high levels.