AP

Lightning kills runner on Greek mountain race; hurts another

Aug 20, 2022, 9:24 PM | Updated: Aug 21, 2022, 9:28 am

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Lightning struck Sunday during a nighttime trail race up a Greek mountain, killing one runner and seriously injuring another, Greek police and the fire service reported.

The two men were running in the Six Peaks race, which passes through the six highest peaks of Mount Falakro in northern Greece, when lightning struck a group of runners at 4 a.m. at an altitude of 1,340 meters (4,400 feet), a police officer told The Associated Press.

Two fire service rescue squads came up the mountain from the nearby town of Drama to find one runner, 55, already dead and another, 56, seriously injured. The injured runner was airlifted to a hospital in the city of Kavala, where authorities said he was in serious condition. Neither was identified.

The 35.7-kilometer (22.2-mile) race had started at 7 p.m. Saturday in the village of Pyrgoi, 630 meters (2,066 feet) up the slopes of the 2,232-meter (7,323-foot) mountain. Falakro’s six highest peaks in Greece are all over 2,000 meters (6,562 feet) high; the mountain extends into Bulgaria.

The weather was good when the race started but during the night heavy rain developed and the trail became muddy. By the time the lightning struck, several of the 55 runners taking part had reached the finish line at a mountain hut on top of the Falakro Ski Resort. Runners had 12 hours to complete the race.

The race is one of five, and the second shortest, organized since 2018 by the Nevrokopi Hiking and Mountaineering Club, located in the nearby town of Kato Nevrokopi under the collective name Frozen Peaks. The three longest races –269, 103 and 46 kilometers (167, 64 and 28.6 miles) — have been certified by the Switzerland-based International Trail Running Association.

___

Nellas reported from Athens, Greece

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Photo: The FBI is offering up to $25,000 as a reward for information about the suspect behind recen...

MyNorthwest Staff with Wire Reports

FBI offering $25K reward for information on ballot box fires suspect

The FBI said Wednesday it is offering up to $25,000 as a reward for information about the suspect behind recent ballot box fires in Oregon and Washington.

1 day ago

President-Elect Donald Trump and his secretary of state nominee Marco Rubio. (Getty Images)...

MICHELLE L. PRICE, ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON, JILL COLVIN and ZEKE MILLER, The Associated Press

Trump picks Gaetz for attorney general, Rubio for secretary of state

President-elect Donald Trump chose Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to serve as his attorney general on Wednesday,

1 day ago

Photo: Former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard hugs Republican presidential nominee former President D...

KTTH Staff with Wire Reports

What to know about Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick to be director of national intelligence

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be the next director of national intelligence

1 day ago

Photo: Jason Rantz (L) and Pete Hegseth (R) sit together at a broadcast....

KTTH Staff with Wire Reports

Trump builds out national security team with Pete Hegseth

President-elect Donald Trump moved to build out his foreign policy team Tuesday, announcing he is nominating Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth to serve as his defense secretary.

2 days ago

Photo: Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., talks with reporters outside the U.S. Capitol after the House...

KIRO Newsradio Staff with Wire Reports

Jayapal says she’s prepared to ‘fight’ next administration as Trump makes cabinet picks

Washington Representative Pramila Jayapal said she's focused on the administration's immigration agenda.

3 days ago

Photo: Attendees look on during the Presentation of the Colors at the National Veterans Day Observa...

Russ Bynum, The Associated Press

Why the US celebrates Veterans Day and how the holiday has changed over time

The Veterans Day holiday began more than a century ago, albeit under a different name, as a celebration of the end of World War I. Over time its name and purpose evolved into a day of recognition for U.S. veterans of all wars as well as those currently serving in uniform.

3 days ago

Lightning kills runner on Greek mountain race; hurts another