At least 5 people were killed and more than 100 people were injured when the thunderstorm accompanied by thunder suddenly struck the Tatra mountains between the borders of Poland and Slovakia on August 22.
Polish police said the sudden extreme weather pattern occurred in the early afternoon when many tourists were planning to conquer Giewont peak in the Tatra Mountains. Most of the casualties are in Poland where lightning hits a metal crucifix atop Giewont and a series of metal objects near the top of the mountain.
A rescue force spokesman confirmed four people were killed on the Polish side, including two children. The other dead person is located on the territory of neighboring Slovakia.
Rescue and medical forces, including many helicopters and ambulances, have been mobilized to take wounded people to hospitals for treatment. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki also personally went to the scene to direct the remedial work. He said more than 100 people were injured, many of them in serious condition with multiple burns on the body.
Police and rescue workers continue to check the roads in the area to find out if anyone is injured or needs assistance.
Located at an altitude of 1,894m, Giewont is the most popular tourist destination in the Tatra Mountains region, always attracting a large number of tourists who want to conquer the peak. At the top of the mountain, the 15m-high crucifix is always the focus of conquering visitors, but at the same time it also suffers from many thunderstorms when there are thunderstorms.
