A church anniversary celebration in southwest Virginia turned tragic Friday evening when a large outdoor tent collapsed during severe weather, leaving one person dead and dozens injured.
The incident occurred around 6:45 p.m. at EastLake Community Church in Moneta, a community in Bedford County located about 25 miles southeast of Roanoke.
According to church officials, the congregation was gathering to celebrate the church’s 20th anniversary when powerful storms swept through the area. Strong winds associated with the storm caused the outdoor tent hosting the event to fail and collapse on attendees.
In a statement shared on social media, church leaders said a “severe weather incident caused the failure of an outdoor tent” during the celebration.
Emergency crews responded to the scene and treated numerous victims. Authorities confirmed that one person died as a result of the collapse, while dozens of others suffered injuries ranging from minor to serious.
Local officials and first responders worked through the evening to assist those affected and secure the area. The identities of the victims have not yet been released.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing, while community members continue to rally around the church and those impacted by the tragedy.
The severe storms that moved through the region on Friday brought strong winds and dangerous weather conditions to parts of southwest Virginia, contributing to the deadly collapse.
