One dead after Virginia church tent collapses in storm

A large tent collapsed during severe weather at a Virginia church’s outdoor anniversary service Friday night, killing one person and injuring 22 others, Bedford County officials said.

The collapse happened around 6:45 p.m. at EastLake Community Church in Moneta, where the church was holding an outdoor event under a commercial tent. Bedford County classified the incident as a mass casualty event.

Eleven people were taken to local hospitals, and 11 others were treated at the scene for minor injuries, local officials said. One person died at the scene. Bedford County acting Fire and Rescue Chief Abbey Johnston told reporters she did not have the conditions of the 11 people transported to hospitals.

A severe storm cell had moved through the area before the collapse, bringing heavy rain, lightning and strong winds, Bedford County officials said. Most of Virginia, including the Moneta area, was under a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 p.m. Friday, NBC News reported.

“The tent collapsed as a result of, we believe, the winds that came through,” Johnston said. “Initially, I’m told it was a very chaotic scene, trying to account for individuals.”

Johnston said the pastor was in the process of evacuating the tent, which had seating for 1,500 people, when it failed.

“It happened very quickly,” she said.

Pastor Troy Keaton said in a Facebook post that the church had gathered for a celebration service marking its 20th anniversary when the weather turned dangerous.

“Our church family suffered a great tragedy tonight after an outdoor tent collapsed during a celebration service for our 20th anniversary,” Keaton wrote. “Just as I had walked to the stage to release people to their cars a burst of wind picked up the tent.”

Keaton said “one of our dear brothers suffered a fatal injury” and that others were injured.

“We are currently focused on caring and praying for them,” he wrote.

The church had advertised a Friday event with food, a service, water activities for children and ice cream, NBC News reported. The event was part of a “multiply week” celebration described by the church as a time for families to connect, held under a large tent.

Officials said the tent had passed an inspection by the Bedford County Division of Building Inspections on Tuesday. Johnston also said the commercial tent was properly secured.

A fire chief from another department and members of that department were at the church when the collapse occurred and quickly responded, helping people to safety, Johnston said.

Moneta is a small community in Bedford County. CBS News described it as about 40 miles southwest of Lynchburg, while NBC News described it as a community of around 450 people about 18 miles east of Roanoke.