Seven hikers electrocuted after severe lightning strike in Utah

Seven members of a youth group hiking in Utah were hospitalized Thursday after lightning struck the ground near them.

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints youth group from Salina, Utah, was hiking in eastern Sevier County around 1:45 p.m. when it began to rain lightly and lightning struck, according to a statement from Sevier County Sheriff Nathan Curtis.

“About 50 youth felt the lightning strike,” Curtis said, noting that seven of the young people had “medical issues due to the electrocution.” Two people showed severe symptoms and were flown by helicopter to Primary Children’s Hospital in Lehi, Utah. Five others were taken by ambulance to Sevier Valley Hospital in Richfield and Gunnison Valley Hospital in Gunnison. None of the injuries were considered life-threatening, and the remaining hikers were safely returned to their families in Salina, about 138 miles (222 kilometers) south of Salt Lake City.

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Utah has experienced severe weather this week, including flash flooding and severe thunderstorm warnings, with strong winds and hail being the main hazards, according to the National Weather Service. On Thursday at 1 p.m., the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City issued a severe weather warning for the region, warning of frequent lightning strikes between the clouds and the ground.

Although lightning strikes are rare—about 40 million bolts of lightning strike the ground each year in the United States—the odds of being struck by lightning in any given year are less than one in a million. Still, about 20 people die from lightning strikes each year in the United States, and hundreds more are injured, according to the National Weather Service. In 2023, 14 lightning-related deaths were reported by the National Lightning Safety Council.

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According to a study by the National Weather Service, between 2006 and 2012, 64% of lightning deaths occurred during recreational activities such as fishing, camping, boating, soccer and golf.

“People often wait far too long to get to safety when a thunderstorm is approaching, putting them in a dangerous and potentially deadly situation,” said John Jensenius, a lightning protection expert involved in the study.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points out that nearly 90% of lightning strike victims survive, but the incident in Sevier County underscores the unpredictable and dangerous nature of severe weather. According to a warning from the National Weather Service, staying outside during a thunderstorm is unlikely to significantly reduce your risk. The only foolproof course of action is to get into a safe building or vehicle.

The thunderstorm, which produced rain and lightning, is part of an increase in monsoon activity that has previously been sparse across the region. The southwest monsoon season typically begins around June 15 and lasts through late September, but its intensity can vary considerably from year to year. During these months, some areas in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and western Texas receive half of their annual rainfall, which is critical for recharging local waterways.