Tent collapses during Virginia church celebration, killing 1 and injuring 22

A ample shelter collapsed during a Virginia church’s 20th day ceremony connected Friday evening, sidesplitting 1 personification and injuring astir 2 twelve others, officials said.

Heavy rain, lightning and beardown winds tore done Moneta, a mini organization astir 124 miles (200km) south-west of Richmond, arsenic nan EastLake organization religion was holding an outdoor service, Shelley Basinger, a spokesperson for Bedford county, said successful a statement. The group was successful nan process of leaving nan arena shelter erstwhile it collapsed, according to Abbey Johnston, acting main of Bedford region occurrence and rescue.

Eleven group were taken to nan infirmary and 11 others had insignificant injuries and were treated astatine nan scene, Basinger said.

“Initially, I’m told it was a very chaotic scene, trying to relationship for nan individuals,” Johnston told reporters.

Officials rushed to rescue everyone wrong nan shelter down nan religion and move them to information arsenic nan thunderstorm raged on, she said.

Troy Keaton, nan non-denominational church’s elder pastor, said he had conscionable walked up to nan shape to show nan group to spell to their cars erstwhile a gust of upwind picked up nan tent.

“Sadly 1 of our beloved brothers suffered a fatal injury,” he said successful a connection connected societal media. “Our hearts are surgery for his precious family.”

The shelter had seating for 1,500 people, according to officials, but it was not instantly clear really galore were wrong erstwhile it collapsed.

No specifications were provided astir nan conditions of nan group successful nan hospital.

Officials are gathering grounds arsenic they analyse nan collapse, Johnston said.

The shelter had passed an inspection by nan county’s building inspections section 3 days earlier, according to Basinger.

Governor Abigail Spanberger said her squad had been successful adjacent interaction pinch nan consequence unit connected nan ground.

“I americium praying for nan EastLake Community Church and each who are impacted, and we will proceed to support nan organization during this difficult time,” she said successful a connection connected societal media.