One person was killed and 22 others were injured Friday night when a large tent collapsed during an outdoor service at East Lake Community Church in Moneta, Virginia.
Eleven people were transported to local hospitals and 11 others were treated at the scene, and Bedford County classified the incident as a mass casualty event, officials said.
Bedford County acting fire and rescue Chief Abbey Johnston said the tent collapsed around 6:45 p.m. and said, "It happened very quickly." Johnston said the pastor was in the process of evacuating the tent, which has seats for 1,500, when the collapse occurred, and said, "The tent collapsed as a result of, we believe, the winds that came through."
Bedford County officials said a severe storm cell moved through the area before the collapse, bringing heavy rain, lightning and strong winds that caused the tent structure to fail, and the Bedford County Division of Building Inspections had passed the tent on Tuesday. Pastor Troy Keaton said on Facebook, "Sadly one of our dear brothers suffered a fatal injury," and wrote, "Just as I had walked to the stage to release people to their cars a burst of wind picked up the tent."
Johnston said the commercial tent was properly secured and that the fire chief of a different department and other members were there when the incident occurred and quickly responded to help people to safety. The church had advertised food, a service, water activities for children and ice cream as part of a "multiply week" celebration to be held under the large tent.
Moneta is about 40 miles southwest of Lynchburg, Bedford County officials said, and is a community of around 450 people about 18 miles east of Roanoke.
The service under the tent was part of the church's 20th anniversary celebration.