A Virginia church tent collapse turned a joyful celebration into tragedy on Friday evening, when a large tent gave way during a 20th anniversary service, killing one person and injuring nearly two dozen others.

The disaster struck EastLake Community Church in Moneta, a small community roughly 124 miles southwest of Richmond, as violent weather swept through the area. According to officials, heavy rain, lightning and powerful winds battered the outdoor gathering just as the event was winding down.

A Celebration Cut Short

The congregation had gathered to mark two decades of the church’s existence. But as a severe thunderstorm bore down, the milestone moment unraveled in seconds.

Bedford County spokesperson Shelley Basinger said the group was in the middle of leaving the event tent when it came down. Acting fire and rescue chief Abbey Johnston described the immediate aftermath as frantic. “Initially, I’m told it was a very chaotic scene, trying to account for the individuals,” she told reporters.

As the storm continued to rage, emergency crews scrambled to pull people from beneath the collapsed structure behind the church and move them to safety.

Counting the Cost

The human toll was significant. Authorities reported:

• One person killed by a fatal injury
• Eleven people transported to the hospital
• Eleven others treated for minor injuries at the scene

Officials did not release details about the conditions of those taken to the hospital.

A Pastor’s Heartbreak

Senior pastor Troy Keaton, who leads the non-denominational church, had been on stage just moments before the collapse. He said he had walked up to urge everyone to head to their cars when a sudden gust lifted the tent.

In a statement shared on social media, Keaton mourned the loss. “Sadly one of our dear brothers suffered a fatal injury,” he wrote, adding that the congregation’s hearts were broken for the man’s family.

Questions Around the Tent

The tent was sizable, with seating for 1,500 people, though officials could not immediately say how many were inside at the moment it failed.

What makes the collapse especially troubling is its recent safety record. According to Basinger, the structure had passed an inspection by the county’s building inspections division just three days earlier. Investigators are now gathering evidence to determine exactly what went wrong, Johnston said.

Community and State Response

The tragedy drew swift attention from Virginia’s leadership. Gov. Abigail Spanberger said her team had been in close contact with responders on the scene.

“I am praying for the EastLake Community Church and all who are impacted, and we will continue to support the community during this difficult time,” she said in a statement.

As the investigation moves forward, a congregation that gathered to celebrate 20 years now finds itself grieving—and searching for answers about how a routine anniversary service ended in such devastating loss.