A TEENAGE boy was struck by lightning and killed on Wednesday evening while playing snooker with his friends in a tuck shop at HaMutsha village outside Thohoyandou in Limpopo.

The deceased, Allen Mulaudzi, 16, was a grade 9 pupil at Nndamuleleni Secondary School.

His two friends suffered minor injuries when the lightning hit the snooker board. This was after heavy rain accompanied by powerful thunderstorms and hail. The storm toppled trees and blew off roofs.

Levubu police spokesperson Warrant Officer Solly Mokhola said: "We were called to the scene at about 7.15 and found the victim's body lying on the snooker table," Mokhola said.

He said the other boys, who were injured, were taken to Tshilidzini Hospital, where they received treatment.

Mokhola said the boy's death had sent shock waves through the community.

The incident came three weeks after a powerful thunderstorm had killed more than seven people in the province and left hundreds homeless.

An inquest docket has been opened and police are investigating, Mokhola said.