IT was a sad day for the Andoni community in Rivers State last Sunday, as many persons, including 12 women were killed by thunder strike, during a thunderstorm.

Andoni community is the home town of the deputy governor of Rivers State, Engineer Tele Ikuru.

Daily Champion gathered that the victims were burnt beyond recognition even as the storm also rendered many homeless.

Most of the affected persons were women who were returning from a fishing adventure in the creeks of Andoni before the incident occurred.

Already seven corpses have been recovered and deposited at the community mortuary, Otaije Mortuary in Inyong Oron Asarama area.

Communities worst hit by the strange lightening include Ngo, Asarama, Unyeada and Akaradi.

Others are Ebukum, Okolole and Oyorokoto communities in Andoni Local Government Local Area of Rivers State.

Commenting on the attack, Mr. Ikpoko Adasi, a community leader in the area said the killing of the women by the thunderstorm was a taboo and that never in the history the communities have they experienced such calamities.

He also decried the destruction of housing and economic crops by the lightening and called for government assistance to the affected rural dwellers.

Attempts to speak on phone with the Chairman of Andoni Local Government Area, Mr. Emilia Nte failed.

Our correspondent reports that the affected communities were besieged with sympathizers as women and children thronged the river banks as local divers recovered dead bodies.

Andoni local Government Area is located off the Atlantic Ocean and can be assessed through rivers and land.