UNITED STATES: Four people ended up in critical condition on Thursday evening after a lightning strike outside the White House in Washington D.C., as announced by fire officials.
The District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department was called out due to reports of a lightning strike in the centre of Lafayette Park at approximately 6:52 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
All four were suffering critical, life-threatening injuries, when help arrived. There are no additional details about the incident or the victims’ conditions yet.
The victims were riding out the storm under a tree, according to a law enforcement source.
Two men and two women were transferred to area hospitals, DC Fire and EMS tweeted. Officials from the Uniformed Division of the Secret Service and the Park Police were on the scene immediately to help with the response.
Officials stated that Police Officers along with the Secret Service and U.S. Park Police witnessed the lightning strike and ran over to assist in first aid.
A portion of the park will remain closed for more than an hour due to the emergency crews remaining on the scene.
Moments before the authorities responded to the accident, the National Weather Service had issued a “severe thunderstorm warning” in Washington D.C.
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