WISCONSIN: Three children were killed and seven other people were rescued after a boat capsized on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin on Friday as severe storms swept across the region, authorities said.
The vessel, carrying 10 people—six adults and four children—was attempting to reach safety when strong winds and rough waves caused it to take on water, overturn and sink.
According to local authorities, six adults and one child were rescued. The remaining three children were later recovered from the water and pronounced dead despite life-saving efforts. Officials said all four children had been wearing life jackets when the boat capsized.
Walworth County Undersheriff Tom Hausner confirmed the fatalities but said the identities of the victims and survivors had not yet been released. The Lake Geneva Police Department is investigating the incident.
Severe storms batter southern Wisconsin
The tragedy occurred as powerful thunderstorms swept through Walworth County around 12:10 p.m. local time, triggering numerous emergency calls reporting fallen trees, downed power lines, damaged vehicles and people trapped inside buildings.
Hausner said emergency responders faced delays reaching affected areas because several roads were blocked by fallen trees and live electrical wires.
“Power lines are all over the place. We are urging people to stay away,” he said.
Authorities sought assistance from neighbouring law enforcement agencies and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to respond to the emergency.
Lake Geneva Mayor Todd Krause declared a local emergency after the storm. One person sustained minor injuries after being struck by a falling tree, while widespread power outages were reported across the city.
Storms disrupt Independence Day weekend
The National Weather Service had issued warnings of severe thunderstorms across large parts of the eastern United States, with damaging wind gusts identified as the primary threat.
Meteorologist John Gagan said weather stations near Geneva Lake recorded wind gusts of about 65 mph as a squall line moved through southern Wisconsin.
According to power outage tracking data, the storm left nearly 300,000 homes and businesses without electricity across Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan.
Geneva Lake, a popular holiday destination in southeastern Wisconsin that attracts large numbers of visitors from the Chicago area, experiences a significant increase in population during holiday weekends.
The same storm system also forced several Midwestern communities to cancel Independence Day celebrations, postpone fireworks displays and warn residents of additional thunderstorms expected over the weekend.
