A woman sustained burns to her hands and chest after lightning struck a gazebo where she was sheltering from a thunderstorm on the “Sloboda” beach in the Leninsky urban district of the Moscow region. The injured woman is currently hospitalized.

The incident occurred during a heavy downpour and thunderstorm. Lightning hit the gazebo, which was located near the water, impacting a group of women taking cover inside.

According to Svetlana, the beach administrator, the strike was powerful. The impact created a hole in the table, scattering items and leaving the injured woman in shock.

Emergency services were immediately contacted. However, heavy rain had made access difficult, with washed-out roads and malfunctioning navigation systems hindering the ambulance’s arrival.

Fortunately, a group of off-duty medics were nearby and provided initial first aid to the victim. The woman was eventually transported to the hospital by ambulance.

The beach administration is maintaining contact with the injured guest. Plans are underway to transfer her to a specialized burn center.

The reason for the specific gazebo being struck remains unclear. Speculation suggests that a roll of foil brought by the vacationers may have attracted the lightning.

The beach administrator expressed her shock at the incident, stating that she had never witnessed anything like it during her years of working there. The severe weather also caused issues at Vnukovo airport, with water leaks reported in one of the terminals.