Mass Casualty Incident Declared After Lightning Strikes Ohio Correctional Facility
- At least 16 inmates were rushed to the hospital following a lightning strike at the Grafton Reintegration Center on Tuesday.
- Authorities describe the injuries as non-life-threatening, though several individuals remain in critical condition.
- The incident occurred as severe storms and flooding swept across the state of Ohio.
A mass casualty incident was declared at the Grafton Reintegration Center, located 30 miles outside of Cleveland, following a lightning strike on Tuesday. The incident occurred at approximately 5:30 p.m. local time as a group of inmates was transitioning between buildings for a scheduled meal.
While early reports from emergency responders initially identified five potential victims, that number has since risen to at least 16 transported patients. A spokesperson for the local ambulance service confirmed that while many of the victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries, a number of the inmates remain in critical condition.
The strike comes during a period of intense weather across Ohio, where a series of powerful storms have caused widespread disruption and significant flooding, which has already been linked to at least one fatality in the state. Prison authorities and emergency services continue to monitor the situation as the injured receive treatment at area hospitals.
