More than a dozen people were hospitalized after a frightening lightning strike at an Ohio prison on Tuesday.
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The lightning struck Grafton Correctional Institution in Lorain County during the evening as incarcerated individuals were returning to their housing units following a meal.
Emergency crews transported 16 people to an outside hospital for treatment, with one person requiring an airlift from the scene.
Despite the severity of the incident, authorities have reported no deaths.
Lightning Strike Injures 19 People at Ohio Prison
The incident came as severe storms and flash flooding swept across parts of the Midwest and Ohio Valley.
The New York Post reports that the extreme weather caused widespread power outages, leaving more than 250,000 people without electricity across Ohio.
A thunderstorm moved through Lorain County at around 5 p.m., reportedly producing "dozens of lightning strikes" across the area.
Authorities said 19 incarcerated individuals suffered injuries during the incident, although three declined medical treatment.
Three men reportedly lost consciousness following the strike, with two also temporarily losing a pulse.
Emergency responders were able to revive them, and officials have reported no fatalities.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said the lightning strike happened unexpectedly while the incarcerated individuals were outside.
Officials Reviewing Events Leading Up to Incident
Reports state that some of the injured men suffered visible burns, while correctional officers also noticed damage to their clothing.
Prison officials had reportedly initially cleared and closed the recreation yard at 4:58 p.m. because of the rain.
The facility reopened the yard at 5:18 p.m. after conditions appeared to improve, allowing incarcerated individuals to walk from the dining facility back to their housing units.
Just two minutes later, at approximately 5:20 p.m., lightning struck.
While some continued toward their housing units, correctional officers quickly noticed three individuals lying on the ground.
Officials immediately recognized the seriousness of the situation and called for emergency medical assistance.
Grafton Correctional Institution has operated since 1988 and houses just over 2,000 people across minimum and medium security levels.
In the aftermath of the incident, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction launched an "after-action review."
Officials will use the review to examine the circumstances surrounding the lightning strike and determine whether staff followed the facility's established safety policies before allowing people back outside.
