A lightning strike triggered a major fire that destroyed approximately 500 tons of stored straw in Sarımbey village in Türkiye’s central province of Yozgat, causing significant losses for local agricultural and livestock producers.

The fire broke out after heavy rainfall and thunderstorms swept through the region, with lightning striking a field where harvested straw bales were stored.

The highly flammable material quickly caught fire, and the flames spread across the storage area, reducing approximately 500 tons of straw to ash.

Local residents alerted emergency services after noticing the blaze. Firefighting teams from the Yozgat Municipality Fire Department and the Yozgat Forestry Directorate were dispatched to the scene.

After an extensive firefighting operation, the teams brought the blaze under control and extinguished the fire, preventing it from spreading to nearby agricultural land and properties.

Authorities confirmed that no injuries or fatalities were reported.

The destruction of the straw represents a substantial financial loss for local farmers and livestock producers, who rely on stored straw for animal feed and bedding, particularly during the colder months.

The incident highlights the risks posed by thunderstorms to agricultural storage facilities, where large quantities of dry straw can ignite rapidly following a lightning strike. (ILKHA)