Twenty people were injured on Tuesday afternoon when lightning struck a popular summertime lake destination in Lexington County, South Carolina.
County officials reported that eight adults and 12 children suffered electric shocks when lightning hit Lake Murray at Dominion Beach Park. Of these individuals, twelve were sent to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, along with the county’s fire service and EMS, quickly responded to the scene.
Twenty people were injured during a lightning strike at Lake Murray in South Carolina. (Getty Images)
Over the weekend, four Kentucky women vacationing in Marco Island, Florida were also reportedly struck by lightning.
The National Lightning Safety Council notes that in 2025, four fatal incidents caused by lightning have occurred in the U.S., with fatalities recorded in Texas, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Florida.
There were 12 lightning fatalities in 2024, according to the organization.
“Although lightning-related deaths have reduced over the last three decades, it remains one of the leading causes of storm-related fatalities in the country,” the organization’s website states. “Moreover, lightning harms more individuals than it kills, resulting in some survivors facing enduring health issues.”
People walk past an access ramp at New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County, Florida, on February 23, 2024. (Photo by JESUS OLARTE/AFP via Getty Images)
The organization advises postponing events if there will be lightning in the area, and notes that lightning can strike up to 10 miles from a thunderstorm.
“Summertime leisure activities such as fishing, boating, camping, going to the beach, etc. contribute to about two-thirds of the lightning fatalities with the remainder related to work or routine daily activities,” the group said. “The best way to protect yourself from lightning is to plan ahead so that you can avoid the lightning threat.”
