Walworth County emergency declared after storm kills 3 on Geneva Lake
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A fast-moving, devastating storm ripped through southern Wisconsin on Friday, killing three people after their boat overturned on Lake Geneva during the busy July 4 holiday weekend.
The tragedy unfolded as a powerful storm system ravaged Walworth County beginning at approximately 12:10 a.m. local time.
Amid the chaos, local dispatchers received emergency 911 calls reporting that a boat had capsized on Lake Geneva and multiple people were struggling in the water.
Authorities were spotted on a rescue boat following a fatal boating accident in Wisconsin. (WFLD)
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The City of Lake Geneva police boat and the Lake Geneva Police Department successfully rescued seven people from the water, but three people could not be rescued, Walworth County Sheriff’s Deputy Tom Hausner said at a news conference.
Emergency crews later removed the bodies.
According to sources, authorities have not yet released the identities of the three deceased victims. CBS News Chicago They were all children.
Three people died when a boat capsized on Lake Geneva in Wisconsin due to severe weather conditions. (WFLD)
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The capsize is currently under joint investigation by the Lake Geneva Police Department and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Although the county’s permanent population is around 106,000, visitor numbers rise to more than 200,000 on holiday weekends such as the Fourth of July, Hausner said.
“Our resources, not just the sheriff’s office, but all law enforcement resources, fire and EMS resources, are under pressure, and this has escalated the situation to unprecedented levels,” Hausner said. he said.
FILE – Aerial view of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. (Paola Giannoni/Getty)
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The sheriff’s office began an emergency search of all off-duty deputies and requested mutual aid from Rock, Kenosha and Jefferson counties, as well as the Wisconsin State Patrol and DNR.
Lake Geneva Mayor Todd Krause issued an emergency declaration at 12:18 p.m. after high winds and heavy rain knocked down power lines, splintered trees, damaged buildings and crushed vehicles.
Multiple storm-related injuries were reported, forcing area hospitals to move elsewhere due to heavy patient volumes.
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The Lake Geneva Police Department, City of Lake Geneva Police Department, Walworth County Sheriff’s Office and Walworth County did not immediately respond to additional questions from Fox News Digital.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources referred all inquiries to the City of Lake Geneva Police Department.
