Lightning kills 13 outside Bangladesh mosque

SYLHET, Bangladesh – At least 13 devotees have been killed by lightning outside a mosque in northeastern Bangladesh.

Local police chief Bayes Ahmed says 20 other people were injured by the lightning late Friday in Sylhet district. The victims were struck by the lightning as they were exiting the mosque following special prayers tied to the holy month of Ramadan.

Ahmed said Saturday that some of those who were killed died at the scene, while others died on the way to the hospital. He said the imam who led the prayers was among the dead.

The fasting month of Ramadan is being observed across Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority nation.

Sylhet district is 192 kilometers (120 miles) northeast of the capital, Dhaka.