A Thai footballer was killed while 12 others - including a Malaysian player - were injured after lightning struck a football pitch in the Sungai Golok town in Thailand’s southern Narathiwat province on Tuesday (Aug 4) evening.

Axar.az reports, citing CNA, that Sungai Golok police chief Thun Sirikhunt said the incident occurred at about 5.30pm local time amid heavy rain during the semi-final match of the regional Golok FA Cup football tournament at Santiphap Stadium.

The match was between Abu x Nong Sirin and SAMCOLT, a mixed team comprising Thai and Malaysian players. Golok FA Cup also features other Malaysian teams such as Kelantan FC, Sirikhunt said.

Sungai Golok sits near the border of Thailand and Malaysia’s Kelantan state.

The man who was killed was identified as 24-year-old Sofwan Awae, a winger of the third-tier club Yala FC.