MXBetween 1998 and 2021, Mexico recorded 2,470 deaths caused by lightning strikes, according to a study conducted by researchers at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). The research, titled 'Mapping Lightning Risk in Mexico: Integrating Natural Hazard and Social Vulnerability,' is the first national map of lightning risk that incorporates both the frequency of thunderstorms and the social vulnerability of communities exposed to them. The study highlights that the danger of dying from a lightning strike depends not only on meteorological conditions but also on economic, social, and territorial factors. The State of Mexico has the highest number of fatalities from lightning strikes, followed by Oaxaca, Michoacán, and Guerrero. In these regions, favorable conditions for thunderstorm formation coincide with large populations facing vulnerability. Many rural communities engage in agricultural and livestock activities outdoors, and due to economic constraints, pausing work during storms is not always feasible. These areas often lack safe shelters, homes without adequate electrical protection systems, and limited emergency medical services. Unlike in the United States, where
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual data and findings from a university study without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. It discusses natural disaster risks and social vulnerabilities without taking a clear ideological stance.
