Two people die, two are still in mortal danger: During a violent thunderstorm over the US capital Washington, lightning strikes in a park near the White House. Eyewitnesses describe a “terrible bang”. The dead are a married couple.
A couple died in a lightning strike near the White House in Washington. Two other people were critically injured, the fire department said. A White House spokeswoman said the administration of US President Joe Biden was “saddened by the tragic loss of life”.
According to the fire department, the lightning struck in Lafayette Park across from the President’s office on Thursday evening (local time) and struck two women and two men. They suffered life-threatening injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals.
Police have since confirmed that two of the injured have been pronounced dead. According to the information, it is a 75-year-old woman and her 76-year-old husband. The couple came from the state of Wisconsin in the north of the USA. The other two victims are still in a life-threatening condition, police said. A White House spokeswoman issued a statement expressing condolences to the families of the deceased.
According to the fire department, first aid was provided by the Secret Service and park police who witnessed the lightning strike. An eyewitness told NBC television that he heard a “terrific bang”. “I just couldn’t believe it. It was so surreal.” Since the people didn’t move, he and other people rushed to help.
Photos released by the rescue workers showed several ambulances and fire engines. A violent thunderstorm hit the US capital on Thursday evening. According to US health officials, the chance of being struck by lightning is 1 in a million.
