Sixteen die and 140 injured after Rwandan church struck by lightning

At least 16 people have been killed and 140 others injured when lightning struck a Seventh Day Adventist church in Rwanda's south, a provincial governor says.

Governor Rose Mureshyankwano said 140 churchgoers were injured and rushed to a nearby hospital, where two are in serious condition.

Ms Mureshyankwano said 17 of those injured are still in the hospital while the rest have been discharged.

Lightning strikes are frequent across Rwanda, which has many hills and mountains, and the country's police record a number of human and livestock deaths.

The governor said a similar incident occurred on Friday when lightning struck a group of 18 students, killing one.

Last October, lightning killed 18 people in different parts of the country.