Four people were critically injured in a lightning strike on Thursday evening at Lafayette Park directly across the street from the White House.
Vito Maggiolo, a spokesperson for DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services, said in a news conference Thursday evening.
“All four were suffering critical, life-threatening injuries,” when help arrived, said Maggiolo, who was unable to provide additional details about the incident or the victims’ conditions.
Update Lafayette Park lightning strike. #DCsBravest transported 2 adult males & 2 adult females to area hospitals. All had critical life threatening injuries.
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) August 4, 2022
The victims, two men and two women, were reportedly under a tree when they were hit.
A severe thunderstorm hit the DC region around 7 p.m. EST Thursday. A portion of the park remained closed Thursday evening with emergency crews at the scene.
Lightning is a sign of divine anger, as described throughout the Bible, most notably by the Prophet Zechariah:
And Hashem will manifest Himself to them, And His arrows shall flash like lightning; My Hashem shall sound the shofar And advance in a stormy tempest. Zechariah 9:14
The lightning strike took place while President Biden remained in an extended quarantine due to COVID-19.
