20 people hurt by lightning strike at famous vacation spot in South Carolina

Twenty people were injured on Tuesday afternoon when lightning struck a popular summertime lake destination in Lexington County, South Carolina. 

County officials reported that a total of 20 individuals, including 8 adults and 12 children, were struck by lightning at Dominion Beach Park in Lake Murray. Among them, 12 were transported to a medical facility for treatment of injuries that were not critical.

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 documented that in the year 2025, four deadly lightning strikes have been recorded in the United States. These fatal incidents took place in various states including Texas, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Florida.

There were 12 lightning fatalities in 2024, according to the organization.

The National Lightning Safety Council emphasized that although the number of lightning-related fatalities has shown a decline in the past three decades, lightning still remains a significant cause of storm-related deaths in the United States. Furthermore, lightning incidents result in a higher number of injuries compared to fatalities, with some survivors experiencing long-term health issues, as mentioned on the organization’s website.

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.”