Lightning strike injures nine in Venice Beach

Cloud to ground lightning bolt, right on the beach where people look to be sunbathing.

Nine injured

(CNN) -- Nine people were injured Sunday afternoon after a rare lightning strike at California's Venice Beach. Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Katherine Main said the incident happened at 2:51 p.m. (5:51 p.m. ET) and that there have been isolated showers in the area.

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles tweeted at around the time of the strike that "cloud to ground lightning" had been reported in nearby Marina Del Rey and at the Los Angeles International Airport. "Stay indoors if you hear thunder until it passes," the Weather Service tweeted.

Witnesses tweeted they saw a huge bolt of lightning strike the area, with one Twitter user describing an explosion that blew off nearby roof tiles.

CNN

a reply to: violet

wow, that is something...at least 1 person was in the water is in critical condition ...below is a quote

At least 13 patients were assessed on the scene, and of those, seven adults and one teenager were transported to local hospitals -- including one who had to be pulled from the water. That patient "is in grave condition," according to Main, and another one was listed in serious condition. The remaining six that had to be taken to the hospital were listed in fair condition Sunday afternoon.

Someone posted an interesting video filmed after the event happened...

Take a look at the 5:23 min. point just under the right side of the helicopter.

Anyone know what it is?

You know right around when this was happening I could hear this horrible long drawn out deep thunder. It sounded horrible. Sad to hear that at the same time 9 people were getting struck by lightening by that sound. Live in santa monica, about two miles from the incident. And I was going to go to the beach this afternoon about a quarter mile north on the same beach.

Hope everybody is Ok and recovers.

a reply to: Murgatroid

I wanna say lens flare. strange lens flare though.

a reply to: BASSPLYR

That was my first thought as well.

The movement seems too uneven and jerky to be a flare though.

I'm guessing it won't be long until someone comes along and tries to connect UFO's to lightning strikes...

a reply to: research100

Just saw the update on injured.

One dead and it hit the water.
Most of the injured were in the water.

John Kades with the Los Angeles Coroner's office told CNN a man in his mid-20's died at Marina Del Rey Hospital after being transported from Venice Beach. It's too early however to determine if he died as a result of "a lightning strike, drowning, or being trampled by the crowd," according to Kades. Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Katherine Main told CNN the lightning hit in the water and on the beach at 2:51 p.m. (5:51 p.m. ET). At least 13 patients -- all of whom were either in or near the water, according to Main -- were assessed on the scene, and of those, seven adults and one teenager were transported to local hospitals. One patient had to be pulled from the water, but it was not immediately clear if it was the man who later died.

a reply to: BASSPLYR

Darn good thing you didn't go.

It's rare to hear lightning striking more than one individual.