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It was a full day of stormy weather. a student was killed in Waterloo this morning — after being hit by lightning — and tonight a round of storms lit up the sky and soaked the area.
This scorched tree bark marks the spot where lightning struck and killed a freshman at the University of Waterloo this morning.
The 18-year old first year engineering student was hit while walking on campus.
A violent, sudden storm hit the area around 9 this morning. The fire department says she hid under this tree. The young woman’s family have asked that the university keep her identity private. The president of the university said he is saddened by her passing.
Feridun Hamdullahpur, President and Vice-Chancellor: “Orientation week is a time when campus is especially vibrant and filled with optimism for the future — which makes this students death even more distressing. And her passing a source of immense grief”
Students on campus talked about the how quickly the storm blew in and the loss of their classmate.
“It was a pretty bad thunderstorm. It was pretty loud. I could hear it from my room. It lasted about a half-hour. I was at the gym. It got struck a couple of times.”
“It could have been me actually. I was walking back from the SLC (Student Life Centre).
“They’re pretty sad. Happened all of a sudden.”
At around 8:30 this evening, a storm rolled through Hamilton, Oakville and Burlington. Heavy lightning and rain lasted for about an hour. Residents of Burlington, hit by devastating flooding last month, were bracing for the worst. Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring told CHCH News that public works was on standby but there were no reports of flooding.
A third round of storms is going through the area right now. There were also reports of tree’s down in Oakville and the highways were moving slowly as the rain pounded the area. No reports of any injuries from tonight’s storm though.