ATLANTA – One soldier was killed and nine others were injured after an apparent lightning strike at Fort Gordon near Augustus, Georgia.
It happened Wednesday morning at the training range on the US Army base, located just west of Augusta. A base news release said the Fort Gordon Emergency Services Department and EMS responded immediately.
An Army spokesman initially told FOX News that ten soldiers were injured, but later said one of the soldiers died from those injuries.
“It is with a heavy heart that Fort Gordon confirms that one of the Soldiers struck by lightning this afternoon has died of his injuries,” said Ann Bowman, Fort Gordon’s deputy public affairs officer.
The soldier’s identity will not be released until his family is notified, Bowman said.
Pentagon officials say the soldiers were treated at the medical center.
Fort Gordon did not release details on the conditions of the other nine wounded soldiers. Their families have been notified, but their names have not been released.
The extent of their injuries was not immediately clear.
“Marty, the girls and I are praying for this trooper’s family and for those also injured by this unfortunate lightning strike,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp tweeted. “As we hope for their recovery, we ask our fellow Georgians to join us in mourning the loss of their fellow serviceman.”
Fort Gordon, located just southwest of Augusta, is home to the United States Army Signal Corps, the United States Army Cyber Command, and the Cyber Center of Excellence.
How can you tell if lightning might strike nearby?
The FOX 5 Storm Team says those close enough to hear thunder are close enough to be struck by lightning. The best thing to do is go inside.
The 30/30 rule is one of the most important safety tips during a thunderstorm. If it takes less than 30 seconds to hear thunder after seeing lightning, it’s close enough to be a threat. After thunder stops, wait 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
To get an estimate of how far away a lightning strike is from a location, count the number of seconds it takes to hear thunder, and every five seconds equals one mile.
How can you reduce your risk of being struck by lightning?
Following some simple tips will help reduce the risk of injury from lightning:
- Stay away from windows and stay indoors
- Don’t seek shelter under a tree, find shelter
- For those who can’t go indoors, squat low with as little ground contact as possible to minimize surface area
- Avoid water during a thunderstorm because lightning can go through the plumbing
What are some facts about lightning?
Here are some characteristics of lightning that are not necessarily widely known:
- The flash is no more than an inch wide.
- It looks like the lightning is flickering because there can actually be up to four different strikes in the same place.
- Lightning kills and injures more people each year than hurricanes or tornadoes; between 75 and 100 people.
- Lightning is approximately 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s five times hotter than the surface of the sun!
- Lightning appears clear or white-yellow in color, but it also depends on the background.
- During the summer months you can see lightning up to 100 miles away (This is not called “heat lightning”)
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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