Fire from lightning strike kills 7 at nursery party in South Africa

Forty others were injured when the lightning struck a tent set up outside the school in KwaZulu-Natal Friday afternoon, sparking a fire, said Bonginkosi Meshack Radebe, minister of social development in the province.

Earlier reports said the deaths were caused by the lightning.

At least 29 of those injured remained in the hospital Saturday night, including 23 in critical condition. Eleven of the injured are children, Radebe said.

Two parents, two teachers, a gardener and a nursery school director also were killed, said Mashu Cele, a spokeswoman for Radebe.