Key facts
- A tent collapsed during a 20th-anniversary celebration at EastLake Community Church in Moneta, Virginia.
- One person died and 22 others were injured in the incident.
- Severe weather, including heavy rain, lightning, and strong winds, contributed to the collapse.
- Eleven individuals were hospitalized, and eleven others were treated for minor injuries at the scene.
- The tent had passed a county building inspection three days prior to the event.
- Officials are investigating the cause of the collapse.
A large tent collapsed during a 20th-anniversary celebration at EastLake Community Church in Moneta, Virginia, on Friday night, resulting in one fatality and 22 injuries. The incident occurred as attendees were leaving the tent amid severe weather, including heavy rain, lightning, and strong winds.
According to Shelley Basinger, a spokesperson for Bedford County, eleven individuals were transported to the hospital, while another eleven sustained minor injuries and received treatment at the scene. Abbey Johnston, acting chief of Bedford County Fire and Rescue, described the initial scene as chaotic, with emergency responders working to rescue and account for everyone inside the tent.
Troy Keaton, the church's senior pastor, stated that a gust of wind picked up the tent as he was directing people to their cars. The tent had a seating capacity of 1,500, though the number of attendees at the time of the collapse was not immediately clear. Officials are investigating the collapse, and Johnston confirmed the tent had passed a county building inspection just three days prior.
Governor Abigail Spanberger said her team is in close contact with the response crew and will support the community during this difficult time.