Two people died and two others were seriously injured after being struck by lightning in the immediate vicinity of the White House on Thursday evening in Washington, local police confirmed to AFP on Friday.
“Two people were declared dead after being struck by lightning in Lafayette Square”, a few meters from the gates of the White House, police said.
They are a couple from rural Wisconsin, James Mueller, 76, and Donna Mueller, 75, authorities said.
The other two victims remain “in critical condition”, according to the police.
White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre expressed her condolences to the families of those who died in a statement on Friday and expressed her “prayers for those who are still fighting for their lives”.
Lightning struck Thursday in the public park which borders the residence of the American president a few minutes before 7:00 p.m.
Photos released by firefighters showed scores of rescue vehicles in the tree-strewn square as a storm continued to batter Washington.
The probability of being struck by lightning is 1 in 1 million, according to data from US health authorities.
“As soon as there is lightning, you have to take refuge in a safe place. Trees, of course, are not safe places,” Washington Fire Department spokesman Vito Maggiolo told local media.