DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Three villagers were killed and 18 others were injured by a lightning strike on Friday evening as they attended a funeral in the Lindi region in southern Tanzania, an official told Xinhua on Sunday.

Abdallah Mputa, in charge of a health center in the Mtama area in the region, said the victims were hit by the lightning strike while they were attending a funeral of their fellow village.

"They were attending the funeral of a fellow villager when a heavy downpour triggered the lightning strike," said Mputa, adding that the lightning struck them at 4 p.m. local time.

The injured persons were still receiving medical treatment at the health center, he said.