15 Fort Jackson soldiers fine after nearby lightning strike

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Fifteen soldiers in South Carolina escaped injury when lightning struck nearby during a training exercise.

Fort Jackson spokesman Pat Jones told news outlets the soldiers were under a lightning-safe structure shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday when lightning struck about 160 feet (50 meters) away.

Fifteen soldiers were taken to a Columbia hospital and were released after being checked Thursday evening. There were no injuries.

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The soldiers were members of the 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment.

Fort Jackson is the Army’s largest training installation, with more than 50,000 recruits assigned there annually.

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