By Patrick N. Nyewan
Grand Cess, Grand Kru County – A wave of grief has engulfed a family in Picnicess following the sudden and tragic death of a woman believed to be in her 60s, who was struck and killed by lightning during a heavy rainstorm on Friday, May 10, 2026.
The deceased, identified as Juah Tarplah Barsseh, leaves behind seven children and more than ten grandchildren, many of whom are now facing an uncertain future after losing their primary caregiver and sole provider.
According to eyewitness accounts and family sources, the fatal incident occurred as severe weather swept through the community. Mrs. Barsseh was reportedly moving within her hom from her bedroom toward the sitting room when lightning struck the house, fatally hitting her and leaving her unconscious on the spot.
A relative, E.D. Swen, described the moment as sudden and devastating, noting that the strike occurred amid intense rainfall and thunderstorm activity that had already unsettled residents in the area.
Family members and neighbors immediately rushed the victim to a nearby health facility in an attempt to save her life. However, medical personnel later pronounced her dead on arrival, confirming the severity of the incident.
In an emotional account, another relative, Jerome Sickar, revealed that the deceased had been the backbone of the family since the passing of her husband years ago. He said she singlehandedly sustained the household through subsistence farming, ensuring the survival, education, and daily needs of her children and grandchildren.
Following her death, the family has raised urgent concerns about the welfare and future of the dependents left behind, warning that the loss has created a critical social and economic gap within the household.
The bereaved family is now making a passionate appeal to humanitarian organizations, government authorities, charitable institutions, and well-meaning individuals across Liberia and beyond to intervene and support the surviving children and grandchildren.
They emphasized that timely assistance would not only provide relief in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy but also help secure the children’s education, nutrition, and long-term stability, preventing them from falling into hardship and vulnerability.
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