Three people died and another was seriously injured following being struck by lightning in front of the White House in Washington (USA), police confirmed on Friday August 5. “Two people were pronounced dead following being struck by lightning in Lafayette Square”the night before.
They are a couple from rural Wisconsin, James Mueller, 76, and Donna Mueller, 75, authorities said. They were on a trip to the US capital to celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary, their niece told the local Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The death of a third victim, a 29-year-old man, has also been confirmed. The fourth person was staying Friday morning “in critical condition”according to the police.
White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre expressed her condolences to the families of those who died in a statement on Friday and expressed “his prayers for those who struggle[aient] once more for their life”.
Lightning struck Thursday in the public park that borders the residence of the American president a few minutes before 7 p.m. (local time). Photos released by firefighters showed scores of rescue vehicles in the tree-strewn square as a storm continued to batter Washington.
Apparent lightning strike Lafayette Park NW. #DCsBravest on scene in the process of treating and transporting 4 patients, all in critical condition. pic.twitter.com/1jyCh44Q2n
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) August 4, 2022
The odds of being struck by lightning are one to one million, according to data from US health authorities. “As soon as there is lightning, you must take refuge in a safe place. Trees, of course, are not safe places”recalled the spokesman for the firefighters of Washington, Vito Maggiolo, questioned by a local media.