Los Angeles: Nine people, including a teenager, were taken to hospital Sunday following a lightning strike at bustling Venice Beach, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
LAFD spokeswoman Katherine Main told AFP two of the individuals were in critical condition but that it was unclear whether all nine were actually hit.
The early afternoon incident occurred while there were isolated thunderstorms in the area and many people were at the beach, Main said.
Eight of those taken to hospital were adults while the ninth was a 15-year-old, she added.