Lightning kills sheep but farmers not hurt
A family of three narrowly escaped being hit by a lightning bolt yesterday that killed 20 of their sheep in the village of Pefki, near Trikala in central Greece, as freak weather hit farmland in the area. Authorities said that the lightning struck as the family was milking the sheep, which were killed instantly. It was not clear if any of the farmers suffered injuries. Heavy rain and hail also hit crops in the area, destroying 170 hectares of cotton and 80 hectares of corn. In the prefecture of Viotia, north of Attica, some 7,000 hectares of crops, including cotton and vegetables, were completely destroyed by a hailstorm. Locals said that the hailstones were the size of walnuts. The farmers have applied to be compensated by the state.
