Thursday, June 3, 2010

Lightning injures 9 in Yellowstone

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_canada/10221836.stm

Begin quote from above article:

A lightning bolt has struck nine people waiting to see the Old Faithful geyser erupt at Yellowstone National Park in the US state of Wyoming.
All the visitors were on the boardwalk or walkways around the geyser when the single lightning bolt struck.
One of the nine people hurt was taken to hospital in Idaho for treatment.
Yellowstone spokesman Al Nash told the Associated Press news agency that the 57-year-old man was to be discharged from the hospital on Wednesday evening.
It was not clear what injuries he had suffered.
Seven others were treated at Old Faithful Clinic for tingling, numbness and shortness of breath.
end quote.

I have been to the Old Faithful Geyser several times but never did I consider people would be struck by lightning there. I would have thought it would have hit trees. But I suppose if the lightning struck while "Old Faithful" was really blowing that it would hit the geyser because at that moment it likely would be the tallest thing around. However, even then I would have thought the Yellowstone Lodge would have been taller. So Go figure!

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