Group struck by lightning in Polish mountains

Three people have died after a thunderstorm and around a dozen were struck by lightning on Thursday in Poland’s southern Tatra Mountains, according to media reports.

Helicopters on a landing pad in front of a hospital in the Polish Tatra mountain resort of Zakopane

PAP / Grzegorz Momot

Helicopters were scrambled and rescuers and firefighters were sent to the Giewont peak after the lightning strike.

The deaths occurred in various sites of the Tatra Mountains, rescuers said. Details were not immediately available.

A 15-metre steel cross at the top of the Giewont peak often draws lightning, state news agency PAP reported.

Standing at 1,894 metres, Giewont is by far the most popular tourist destination in the area. It is about a three-hour hike from the town of Zakopane.

The weather in the region was sunny on Thursday morning, but then worsened dramatically in matter of minutes.

(pk)

Source: PAP/IAR

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