18 injured by lighting strike at South Carolina lake

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) – Several people were struck by lightning at a South Carolina lake.

South Carolina Emergency Management said 18 people were struck by lightning while at Lake Murray Public Park in Lexington on Tuesday afternoon.

Officials said six adults and 12 children were injured. They were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

According to the Irmo Fire District, a bolt of lightning hit Lake Murray and energized a metal cable with buoys that surround the swimming area.

The people hospitalized were either holding onto the cable or swimming nearby when the lightning struck.