7 rescued as boat capsizes on Wisconsin lake; 3 children dead

Three people were killed and seven others were rescued after a boat capsized on Geneva Lake in Wisconsin on Friday as powerful storms battered the region, authorities said.According to news agency AP, the boat overturned as a severe storm swept across southern Wisconsin, where strong winds, heavy rain and widespread damage prompted multiple emergency calls.Walworth County Undersheriff Tom Hausner confirmed the fatalities but said authorities had not yet released details about the victims or those rescued.The incident is under investigation by the Lake Geneva Police Department.The boat was carrying 10 people, six adults and four children, who were trying to reach safety when high winds and rough waves overwhelmed the vessel, causing it to take on water, capsize and sink.According to Fox6 Now, the six adults and one child were rescued, while three children were later found and pronounced dead despite life-saving efforts. All four children were wearing life jackets when the boat capsized.Powerful storm leaves trail of destructionThe boating tragedy unfolded as severe thunderstorms swept through Walworth County around 12:10 pm (local time), triggering numerous 911 calls reporting downed trees, power lines, damaged vehicles and people trapped in buildings.Hausner said deputies responded immediately but faced delays because roads were blocked by fallen trees and live power lines.“Power lines are all over the place. We are urging people to stay away," Hausner said, as quoted by AP.Authorities sought assistance from neighbouring law enforcement agencies and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to respond to the emergency.Lake Geneva mayor Todd Krause declared a local emergency, saying one person sustained minor injuries after being struck by a falling tree. Several parts of the city also experienced power outages.Storms disrupt holiday weekendThe National Weather Service had warned of severe thunderstorms across much of the eastern United States, with damaging wind gusts posing the greatest threat.Meteorologist John Gagan was quoted by The New York Times as saying that local weather stations near Geneva Lake recorded wind gusts of around 65 mph as a squall line moved across southern Wisconsin.The storms knocked out electricity to nearly 300,000 homes and businesses across Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan, as per PowerOutage. com.Geneva Lake, a popular holiday destination in southeastern Wisconsin that attracts visitors from the Chicago area, sees its population nearly double during holiday weekends.The same storm system also forced several Midwestern communities to cancel Independence Day celebrations, postpone fireworks displays and issue fresh warnings of additional thunderstorms over the weekend.Catch the latest world news and top headlines. Download the TOI App.