Scorching heat and delays: How Washington DC marked America's 250th birthday
Thousands gathered in the US capital to celebrate the 250th anniversary, with extreme weather causing delays and an evacuation, but the night ended with the largest fireworks display in US history.
Thousands of people converged on Washington DC on Tuesday, July 4, to celebrate America's 250th birthday. The day was marked by extreme heat, thunderstorms, and delays, including an evacuation of the National Mall in the early evening after a thunderstorm struck.
The celebration featured a military flyover, a concert, and a speech by President Donald Trump. Despite the weather interruptions, the evening concluded with what is believed to be the largest fireworks display ever seen in the United States, lighting up the skies over the capital.
The July 4 federal holiday commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the 13 American colonies in 1776, ending British rule. BBC correspondent Richard Preston was among those attending the event.
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