Twenty people, including twelve children, were injured Tuesday evening when lightning unexpectedly struck a beach near Lake Murray in Lexington County, South Carolina. Officials stated that while the injuries are considered non-life-threatening, the sudden nature of the strike on an otherwise clear day left responders and witnesses surprised.
Lexington County spokeswoman Vanessa Diaz reported that twelve children and six adults were transported to local hospitals following the incident. Two other individuals present at the time of the strike left the scene on their own. The exact ages of the patients and the full extent of their injuries were not immediately clear.
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The lightning strike, reported around 5 p.m., occurred at the Dreher Shoals Dam, which is part of the Lake Murray Public Park. The park, owned by Dominion Energy, is located approximately four miles northeast of Lexington. Dominion Energy has not yet commented on the incident.
Diaz described the weather conditions leading up to the strike as “super hot and sunny,” with the unexpected appearance of a single storm cloud passing over the area. “It didn’t rain or anything like that; it was just a random storm cloud that went by,” she explained.
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Multiple emergency services quickly responded to the scene, including the Lexington County Fire Service, the Irmo Fire District, Lexington County Emergency Medical Services, and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.
Lake Murray Public Park was closed Tuesday night in the aftermath of the incident but is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday. This unusual event serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable danger of lightning, even on seemingly clear days.
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