Man dies after lightning strike at Pasir Ris Beach: Main thunderstorm cloud 'a few km' away at the time, MSS says

A paddleboarder died following a lightning strike at the Pasir Ris beach area on Jul. 5 at about 4:46pm.

In response to queries from Mothership, the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) said the lightning strike was detected when the main thunderstorm cloud was still a few kilometres away.

A total of 1,569 lightning strikes were observed that day, MSS added.

Thunderstorms developed near Yishun

According to MSS, thunderstorms that day began developing in the north of Singapore near the Yishun area at about 3:20pm and moved north-westwards.

Forecasts for thundery showers were issued for many locations in the west, central and north of Singapore, said MSS, which is under the National Environment Agency (NEA).

Subsequently, at around 4:30pm, thunderstorms developed around Punggol and moved westward away from Pasir Ris.

These further developed and intensified rapidly into a large cell which extended over the Straits of Johor, MSS said.

Several lightning strikes in north of Singapore

Based on NEA's lightning detection system, several lightning strikes were observed over the north of Singapore and the Straits of Johor, MSS said.

The data showed that only one lightning strike was detected at the Pasir Ris beach area at about 4:46pm, when the main thunderstorm cloud was still a few kilometres away.

At about 4:50pm, the police responded to a call where a man was apparently struck by lightning while paddleboarding at Pasir Ris Beach.

Mikhail Benyamin, a 24-year-old freelance sea sports instructor, was brought to Sengkang General Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Lightning can strike a distance away from the main thunderstorm cloud even when there are no showers, MSS explained.

Lightning alert

NEA provides a lightning information service through the myENV app and the weather information website.

By default, alerts will be triggered if cloud-to-ground lightning is detected and/or forecasts of thundery showers are issued within a 6km radius of the location for the next two hours, MSS said.

Following the initial alerts, notifications will also be sent when no lightning activity has been observed over the watch area for the past 30 minutes, or when thundery showers are no longer expected.

For the afternoon of Jul. 5, the forecast of thundery showers for the Pasir Ris town centre was issued at about 4:30pm and cloud-to-ground lightning was detected subsequently.

Depending on the settings selected in myENV, MSS said users would have received alerts for these events shortly after.

Singapore has high incidence of lightnings

Singapore has a high incidence of lightning, with an average of 176 lightning days per year, MSS said.

Data collected over the last 10 years showed that between 6,400 and 39,600 lightning strikes were detected over these areas in July, while the annual number of lightning strikes ranged from approximately 216,000 to 380,000.

"Our records do not indicate any discernible trend in lightning occurrences over the years," MSS said.

What is lightning?

"Lightning is a large electrical discharge produced by a thunderstorm cloud, whether over land, coastal, or sea areas," MSS said.

Locations in open spaces like fields, beaches, and parks are generally more at risk of lightning strikes due to the exposure and absence of lightning protection.

Tall structures may also be more susceptible to strikes as they provide a shorter path for charges to reach the ground, MSS said.

Here are some precautions to protect yourself: