Four people are in critical condition after an apparent lightning strike at a park in Washington, D.C., authorities said Thursday evening.
DC Fire and EMS said they responded to Lafayette Park, located in front of the White House, and treated the four patients who were found “near a tree.”
Two men and two women were transported to area hospitals with “life-threatening injuries” after the apparent lightning strike, DC Fire and EMS said.
Authorities said it was still unclear what the adults were doing before the lightning strike, whether they knew each other and why they were in the park. The identities of the victims cannot be confirmed while the investigation is still ongoing, officials said.
In this photo posted to the DC Fire and EMS Twitter account, first responders work at the scene of a lightning strike in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 4, 2022.
DC Fire and EMS/Twitter
Uniformed U.S. Park Police officers and members of the Secret Service were also on the scene and immediately treated the victims, an EMS official said during a news conference.
In this photo posted to the DC Fire and EMS Twitter account, first responders work at the scene of a lightning strike in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 4, 2022.
DC Fire and EMS/Twitter
The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the area Thursday evening.
ABC News’ Beatrice Peterson contributed to this report.
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