On the 3rd, lightning struck a field in Miyazaki City, and 18 high school students playing soccer were transported to the hospital, with two seriously injured.In response, Miyazaki Prefecture announced on the 4th that all areas in the prefecture would be closed to prevent recurrence. We have notified schools to take appropriate measures such as canceling or suspending activities when lightning strikes are likely to occur.
Around 2:30 pm on the 3rd, lightning struck the soccer field of Hosho High School in Furujo-cho, Miyazaki City, and according to the fire department and the school, a total of 18 high school students between the ages of 15 and 18 were taken to the hospital.
Two of them were seriously injured, and 16 others were injured, and according to the high school, one seriously injured person was unconscious and is being treated at a hospital.
According to Hosho High School, on the 3rd, high schools from inside and outside the prefecture gathered in Miyazaki Prefecture to play soccer matches at multiple venues, and at the ground where the lightning struck, 100 people, including students from Hosho High School and Kamoto High School in Kumamoto Prefecture, were at the ground. This means that more people were playing matches.
Then, lightning struck the side of the pitch where Kamoto High School was warming up.
In response to a student being injured by lightning during a club activity, Miyazaki Prefecture's Sports Promotion Division issued a notice on the 4th calling on all public and private schools in the prefecture to take precautions to prevent a recurrence.
The notice states, ``In conditions where lightning strikes are likely to occur, thorough guidance will be provided so that appropriate responses can be taken, such as stopping and suspending activities based on accurate judgment based on the situation, and evacuating to a safe place.'' I'm calling.
This notice was sent to public schools in the prefecture on the 1st of this month, but today it was again sent to all schools, including private schools.
Vice Principal Koichi Toyama “Care for students’ minds”
Koichi Tomiyama, vice principal of Hosho High School, told the press on the 4th, ``At the time, the rain was light and there was no thunder, so I don't think there was an error in judgment at this point, but something like this happened...'' "I think we need to investigate the cause and consider the criteria for deciding whether to play the match."
He went on to say, ``I wish for the recovery of the Kamoto High School students who have been hospitalized or injured, and I also want to provide emotional care to the Hosho High School students who witnessed this.''