Daijiworld Media Network – Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva, Jul 4: Three people were killed and seven others were rescued after a boat capsized in Geneva Lake during a powerful storm that swept across southern Wisconsin on Friday, officials said.
Walworth County Undersheriff Tom Hausner said emergency responders recovered three bodies from the lake, while seven people were rescued following the incident.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims or provided further details about those rescued.
The Lake Geneva Police Department has launched an investigation into the incident.
The severe storm caused widespread damage across Walworth County, toppling trees, bringing down power lines and damaging buildings.
Lake Geneva Mayor Todd Krause declared a local emergency following the storm. He said one person sustained minor injuries after being struck by a falling tree, while several parts of the city experienced power outages.
Hausner said authorities received numerous emergency calls reporting storm damage, people trapped inside buildings and requests for assistance.
Although deputies responded immediately, rescue efforts were hampered by fallen trees and downed power lines blocking several roads.
"Power lines are all over the place. We are urging people to stay away," Hausner said.
The Walworth County Sheriff's Office sought assistance from neighbouring law enforcement agencies as well as the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to respond to the emergency.
Geneva Lake, a popular tourist destination in southern Wisconsin, attracts large numbers of visitors from the Chicago metropolitan area and other regions. According to Hausner, the population of Walworth County nearly doubles during holiday weekends.
The storms also disrupted Independence Day celebrations across the Midwest, forcing several cities to cancel holiday festivals and postpone fireworks displays.
The US National Weather Service had issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Lake Geneva area, forecasting heavy rainfall on Friday, with showers and thunderstorms expected to continue through the Independence Day weekend.