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A large tent collapsed during a Virginia church’s 20th anniversary celebration on Friday evening, killing one person and injuring nearly two dozen others, officials said.<\/p>\n
Heavy rain, lightning and strong winds tore through Moneta, a small community about 124 miles (200 kilometers) southwest of Richmond, as the EastLake Community Church was holding an outdoor service, Shelley Basinger, a spokesperson for Bedford County, said in a statement. The group was in the process of leaving the event tent when it collapsed, according to Abbey Johnston, acting chief of Bedford County Fire and Rescue<\/p>\n
Eleven people were taken to the hospital and 11 others had minor injuries and were treated at the scene, Basinger said.<\/p>\n
\u201cInitially, I\u2019m told it was a very chaotic scene, trying to account for the individuals,\u201d Johnston told reporters.<\/p>\n
Officials rushed to rescue everyone inside the tent behind the church and move them to safety as the strong thunderstorm raged on, she said.<\/p>\n
Troy Keaton, the non-denominational church’s senior pastor, said he had just walked up to the stage to tell the group to go to their cars when a gust of wind picked up the tent.<\/p>\n
\u201cSadly one of our dear brothers su\ufb00ered a fatal injury,\u201d he said in a statement on social media. \u201cOur hearts are broken for his precious family.\u201d<\/p>\n
The tent had seating for 1,500 people, according to officials, but it was not immediately clear how many were inside when it collapsed.<\/p>\n
No details were provided about the conditions of the people in the hospital.<\/p>\n
Officials are gathering evidence as they investigate the collapse, Johnston said.<\/p>\n
The tent had passed an inspection by the county’s building inspections division three days earlier, according to Basinger.<\/p>\n
Gov. Abigail Spanberger said her team has been in close contact with the response crew on the ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am praying for the EastLake Community Church and all who are impacted, and we will continue to support the community during this difficult time,\u201d she said in a statement on social media.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n