Originally appeared on E! Online<\/a><\/p>\n An unexpected weather pattern has sparked tragedy in South America.<\/p>\n Four female soccer players were killed after being struck by lightning after a storm interrupted their match in rural Colombia Feb. 9, according to multiple<\/a> reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n After seeking shelter from the storm, Jeidy Morales<\/strong>, Daniela Mosquera<\/strong>, Luz Lame<\/strong> and Etelvina Mosquera<\/strong>\u2014who hailed from nearby Piedras Negras\u2014were ultimately struck and killed by the lightning, local outlet Cauca Hoy<\/em> reported. The tragedy took place in the village of El Real, Casas Bajas, located within the town of Cajibio.<\/p>\n \u201cThe women were participating in a football tournament when the emergency occurred,\u201d government spokesperson Lesly Valencia<\/strong> said following the incident, per National World<\/em>. \u201cA lightning bolt struck a tree and that was what caused the death of the four women.\u201d<\/p>\n The victims had been participating in a weekly soccer championship organized Cajibio\u2019s municipal administration, Piedras Negras action board president Elmer Giovanny Mosquera<\/strong> told Cauca Hoy<\/em>. He added that it was not raining when the lightning struck, but noted that the sky was \u201ccloudy.\u201d<\/p>\n E! News has reached out to Lesly Valencia for comment but has not yet heard back.<\/p>\n In light of the devastating loss, tributes have surfaced online from loved ones paying their respects to the victims.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat sad news,\u201d one mourner wrote, per National World<\/em>. \u201cRest in peace Daniela.\u201d<\/p>\n More from E! Online<\/strong><\/p>\n The natural phenomenon also claimed the life of a man in attendance who later died in hospital, National World<\/em> reported citing local media. The report also noted that two other women were left with serious burns as a result of the lightning strike.<\/p>\n In a message shared on the Cajibio municipal government’s Facebook<\/a> page Feb. 11, mayor Diana Carolina Cabanillas Valencia<\/strong> extended “deepest condolences” to the victims’ families and friends.<\/p>\n