Tent collapses during Virginia church celebration, killing 1 and injuring 22

Heavy rain, lightning and strong winds tore through Moneta, about 124 miles south-west of Richmond 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. Heavy rain, lightning and strong winds tore through Moneta, a small community about 124 miles (200km) south-west 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. Continue reading...

Associated Press · Sat, Jun 13, 2026, 3:41 PM
US news | The Guardian

Tent collapses during Virginia church celebration, killing 1 and injuring 22

Heavy rain, lightning and strong winds tore through Moneta, about 124 miles south-west of Richmond

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.

Heavy rain, lightning and strong winds tore through Moneta, a small community about 124 miles (200km) south-west 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.

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