One person was killed and 11 others were taken to hospitals after a large tent at a Virginia church event collapsed during a storm and high winds Friday, authorities said.
The tent collapsed around 6:45 p.m. as an event was being held outside of EastLake Community Church in Moneta, Bedford County acting fire and rescue Chief Abbey Johnston told reporters.
Johnston said the pastor was in the process of evacuating the tent, which has seats for 1,500, when the collapse occurred.
“It happened very quickly,” she said.
Johnston did not have the condition of the 11 people who were transported to hospitals. Another 11 were treated at the scene and released, she said.
The tent collapse occurred as most of Virginia was under a severe thunderstorm watch, including in the Moneta area, until 9 p.m. Friday.
“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 that the commercial tent was properly secured. The fire chief of a different department and members were there when the incident occurred and quickly responded and helped people to safety, she said.
The church had advertised an event with food, a service and water activities for children and ice cream Friday.
It’s part of a “multiply week” celebration, which was advertised as a time for families to come and connect with one another which was to be held under a large tent.
Moneta is a community of around 450 people around 18 miles east of Roanoke.
Pastor Troy Keaton said on Facebook that the “church family suffered a great tragedy tonight.”
“Just as I had walked to the stage to release people to their cars a burst of wind picked up the tent,” Keaton wrote.
He said that “Sadly one of our dear brothers suffered a fatal injury,” and others were injured.
“We are currently focused on caring and praying for them,” he said.
