2 Korean volunteers dead in Sri Lanka

Two Korean volunteer workers were killed and three others were injured on Saturday (local time) by a lightning strike in Haputale, Uva Province, Sri Lanka.

A mechanical engineer Kim Young-woo, 22, and a woman music teacher Jang Mun-jeong, 24, were killed by lightening on Saturday evening in the mountainous region. The three injured volunteers were sent to a nearby hospital for treatment, according to Korea Overseas International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

They were visiting the house of one of the injured volunteers in Haputale, and were outside after the meeting, the agency said.

KOICA said 30 local people died in the mountainous region up until now, due to frequent lightening strikes.

The late Kim taught car mechanics at Sri Lanka Poly Technical College for a year, substituting for his military duty, and volunteer Jang taught piano to local villagers from August.

Both volunteers were interested in international aid, a KOICA spokesperson said.

Medical staff and family members will be sent to Sri Lanka to investigate the incident. Meanwhile, a local KOICA official has already been dispatched from Colombo to the mountainous region.

KOICA plans to have the three injured volunteers return home soon.

KOICA is in charge of implementing the Korean aid program for dispatching 1,372 overseas volunteers along with 29 developing countries.

At present, 167 agents are engaged in 30-months overseas work in place of their military duty. <The Korea Times/Ryu Chang-gi>

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