Three people were killed by a lightning strike in the immediate vicinity of the White House in Washington. They had sought shelter under a tree.

A violent thunderstorm last Thursday evening over the U.S. capital Washington, D.C., claimed three lives. A total of four people were struck by lightning in Lafayette Park, right next to the White House.

A camera captured the timing of the lightning strike on video. Eyewitnesses at the scene reported a "horrific bang" caused by the near miss.

The lightning strike was related to severe thunderstorms that had moved across the eastern United States on Thursday evening (local time). Between 6 and 7pm, they also affected the region around the capital Washington with countless lightning bolts.

The victims were a 76-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman who were in Washington to celebrate their wedding anniversary. In addition, a 29-year-old man succumbed to his injuries from the lightning strike Friday afternoon. Another woman was fatally injured.