Three pineapple pickers died and nine others were hurt after being hit by lightning in Manolo Fortich town in Bukidnon province, Thursday night.

Police identified the fatalities as Dandelor Lompon, Marlon Sayagnon, and Doro Lusac, plantation workers of the Del Monte Philippines Inc. in Barangay Sangcanan.

Police Officer 3 Jim Luton, Manolo Fortich police investigator, said plantation workers were harvesting pineapples in Field 69 of the pineapple plantation in Barangay Sangcanan when they were hit by lightning around 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

The workers were thrown by the lightning's impact. The three fatalities were instantly killed by the lightning, the policeman said.

Nine workers were hurt and suffered third-degree burns. They have been brought to Camp Phillips Memorial Hospital.

Francis Rivera, Del Monte's environment and safety officer, said the pineapple company will shoulder the victims' burial and medical expenses. -- LORENZO LUZON, ABS-CBN Cagayan de Oro