Six people have been killed by lightning during a heavy storm in Cambodia, police said Wednesday.

The victims, all aged between 15 and 60, were struck on Monday evening during a rainstorm in the western province of Pursat, provincial police chief Sarun Chanthy told AFP by telephone.

"This is a natural danger and we feel regret about it," he said.

Three people were hit while they were sitting on a porch and the other three were killed as they sought shelter at a house under construction, he added.

At least 140 people were killed by lightning last year, according to Cambodia's national committee for disaster management.