What was meant to be a scenic mountain getaway ended in tragedy on Friday afternoon, Oct. 30, after a 19-year-old male hiker died from a lightning strike at a popular nature spot on Mt. Kilagas in Barangay Kiliog, Libona town.
The victim, a resident of Macanahan, Cagayan de Oro City, had traveled by motorcycle with his 18-year-old girlfriend to view the scenic sea of clouds and mountain ranges at Cowboys Camp, an elevated site overlooking Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro City.
An initial investigation led by Capt. Erwin James Tabequero of the Libona Municipal Police Station revealed that the couple parked their motorcycle at the foot of the trail before hiking up the mountain.
However, weather conditions suddenly deteriorated past 1:00 p.m., bringing an unexpected thunderstorm and sudden lightning strikes across the open terrain.
The lightning struck the young man while he was at the scenic spot with his companion.
Responders from the Libona Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) rushed the victim to the nearest hospital in Cagayan de Oro City, but attending physicians declared him dead at around 5:00 p.m. on Friday.
After the incident, Libona municipal officials and police urged tourists and hikers visiting Cowboys Camp to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant, warning that open elevated sites carry severe risks during sudden thunderstorms.