TYRE, Lebanon: The body of a young man was discovered Sunday hanging from an electricity pole in the southern city of Tyre.

The body of the man, in his twenties, was discovered by farmers early in the morning while heading to the fields in the area between the two Tyre villages of Batoulieh and Dair Qanoun - Ras al-Ain.

Security sources said that the man may have climbed up the pole to steal copper wires from the electricity cables, when he was struck by electricity and died. Baggage on the floor suggested it may be used for collection.

Security forces later arrived at the scene and launched an investigation into the incident.

The sources said it is suspected the man had accomplices who ran away after he was killed, as copper thieves usually work in teams.

Frequent copper thefts in south Lebanon have caused repeated power outages in many rural villages. Electricite du Liban has issued several warnings that cable theft is on the rise, and last year announced that theft represents close to 30 percent of its losses.