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Lightning strikes hurt 15 people at French music festival

The victims at the Vieux Canal festival in the town of Azerailles in north-east France included children who were in a tent during the storm.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

At least 15 people have been injured, two of them seriously, by lightning at a music festival in the north-east of France, officials say, reports the BBC.

The lightning struck in several areas of the Vieux Canal festival in the town of Azerailles, the regional council said in a statement.

Those injured include children who were in a tent during the storm.

The victims were "directly hit by the lightning and suffered burns", the regional council said.

A woman in her sixties and a 44-year-old man are reported to be in a serious condition as a result of the strikes.

Parts of France around this time of the year are often put on alert for violent storms.

Read more of this report from the BBC.