1 dead and 22 injured after severe weather prompts outdoor tent failure at Virginia church

BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. – Severe weather caused an outdoor tent failure at a Virginia church service on Friday evening, resulting in 1 death and more than a dozen injuries. 

Damaging winds caused the tent to collapse during a service at EastLake Community Church in Moneta, Virginia, on Friday. 

According to officials in Bedford County, eleven people were transported to local hospitals by ambulance, while eleven others were treated at the scene for minor injuries. One person died at the scene of the collapse.

According to storm reports from the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, outflow from a nearby thunderstorm blew down two tents, with a number of injuries being reported. 

The Mayor of Rocky Mount, Virginia, C. Holland Perdue, released a statement to foxnews.com: 

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of Eastlake Community Church and everyone affected by today’s tent collapse during an outdoor service in Bedford County. We are praying for those who were hurt, for their families, and for the entire church community during this difficult time." 

Virginia Senator Mark Peake said in a post on X, "Our thoughts are with the entire Bedford community during this difficult time."

The area in Moneta was not under any severe weather warnings Friday evening, according to the FOX Forecast Center.

This is a developing story.