ALCALA, PANGASINAN — What was meant to be a quick trip for afternoon snacks turned into an unimaginable tragedy on Monday, after a 27-year-old mother was struck and killed by lightning while walking home with her toddler during a sudden, localized thunderstorm.

The victim, identified as Estila Lopez, was walking across an open field in Barangay Laoac around 5:00 PM on June 15, 2026 when the weather took a drastic turn. According to her partner, Melvin Solimen, Lopez had crossed over to the other side of the road to buy meryenda (snacks) for the family. In an effort to beat the looming downpour on their way back, she decided to take a shortcut through the open field.

It was during this trek across the exposed pasture that a bolt of lightning struck her directly. Miraculously, her three-year-old child, who was walking alongside her, survived the incident completely unscathed. Witnesses and local authorities believe the mother's positioning took the brunt of the deadly discharge, effectively shielding the toddler.

Emergency responders, including the local police and Municipal Health Officer Dr. Shirante Parayno, rushed to the scene. However, due to the severe nature of the strike, Lopez was declared dead on the spot.

Speaking to local news outlets, a grieving Solimen expressed the immense trauma of the loss, while finding a small piece of solace in their child's survival.

"Hindi ko rin po alam ang gagawin ko na kung dalawa pa silang nawala," (I wouldn't know what to do if both of them were taken from me,) Solimen said.

Lopez leaves behind three young children. The grieving family has reached out to the public for financial assistance to help cover funeral expenses and support the children left behind.

The tragedy has prompted immediate warnings from local law enforcement and disaster risk management offices. As the rainy season intensifies, open fields, farms, and exposed terrains become highly volatile zones during thunderstorms.

"We are reminding our residents here in Alcala to take extra precautions, especially when in open areas, because that is where peopled are most prone to lightning strikes during the rainy season," said Police Senior Master Sergeant Mario Quiocho, the case investigator.

The Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) urge the public to follow strict safety protocols during localized thunderstorms. If caught outdoors, individuals should immediately seek enclosed shelter inside a sturdy building or a hard-topped vehicle with the windows fully rolled up, making sure to avoid small sheds or open-sided structures. When stranded in open spaces or high ground without accessible shelter, it is crucial to stay away from tall objects like trees or utility poles, which naturally attract lightning.

Furthermore, weather experts advise that if lightning is actively striking directly overhead while you are stuck in an open area, you should drop low to the ground in a dry spot to ensure you are not the tallest object in the vicinity. Finally, people should avoid using electronic devices or holding metallic objects outdoors, as these items act as excellent conductors of electricity.

An investigation into the incident is fully wrapped up, and community members are rallying to aid the Lopez family during this dark time.