50 birds worth Dh20m killed by lightning bolt

As many as 50 rare birds worth over Dh20 million were killed when a lightning bolt hit a farm in Al Dhafra area in Abu Dhabi, Al Bayan reported.

According to the farm’s owner Khalfan bin Butti Al Qubaisi, the birds had won many trophies in competitions. They were priceless, he said. One of the birds was a famous competition winner valued in excess of Dh10 million alone.

The strong lightning bolt burned the farm, including their nests, he added. Initial reports said that 35 rare falcon chicks had been killed in the lightning strike. “The thunderbolt was very strong and burned everything,” he said.