4 Panamanian Softball Players Killed by Lightning

PANAMA CITY (EFE) – FourPanamanian softball players were killedlast weekend by a lightning bolt thatstruck a tree under which they and otherteammates had gathered, authorities saidMonday.The tragedy occurred Sunday outsidethe central Panamanian town of Llanos deMarin.The lightning bolt struck in mid-afternoon,killing the four young men andinjuring two others. It was not raining atthe time.Emergency rescue personnel said thatthe bolt surprised the ballplayers, allbetween 22 and 28 years of age, whenthey were planning their game strategyfor the local championship held each yearat this time in Cocle province.