Lightning strikes injure dozens in France and Germany

Lightning strikes on Saturday injured more than 40 in Europe, including children playing at a popular park in Paris and attendees at a children's soccer game in Germany, USA Today reports.

In Paris' Park Monceau, a surprise spring storm prompted adults and children attending a birthday party to seek shelter under a tree. Eleven people, including eight children, were injured when lightning struck.

In Western Germany, lightning struck a children's soccer match, seriously injuring three adults. The strikes hit shortly after the game finished at about 2 p.m. and seemed to come out of the blue.

Besides the three adults, which included the match's referee, another 32 people including 30 children between the ages of 9 and 11 were taken to the hospital as a precaution, the dpa news agency reported.