NewsRescue
On Friday night, devastating storms wreaked havoc across several US states, with multiple deaths reported in the south and midwest. According to local officials, a “mass casualty” incident was declared after powerful gusts caused a roof collapse at a music venue in Belvidere, Illinois.
The collapse happened during a concert at the Apollo Theatre in Belvidere, about 70 miles northwest of Chicago, in the midst of high winds from a severe thunderstorm. According to city officials, one person died at the scene and 28 others were injured.
Another news outlet’s photo of the building showed debris scattered in front of the venue and a fallen marquee, while video shared online depicted the scene inside the theater, where a large pile of rubble could be seen. Panicked attendees were also depicted in the video, with some assisting in the search for survivors by digging through the wreckage.
According to the Country Herald, a news agency based in central Illinois, officials confirmed that “multiple” people were trapped under the debris during the rescue efforts. According to the outlet, 20 ambulances were dispatched to the Apollo to treat the injured, and the Belvidere Fire Department requested assistance from neighboring districts.
The roof collapse occurred as a series of severe storms hit the US midwest and south on Friday evening, prompting Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders to declare a state of emergency after tornadoes ripped through multiple towns in the region. At least three people were killed and more than 40 were injured in Arkansas.
A massive twister was captured on video in Little Rock as it moved through the city, reportedly overturning vehicles and destroying buildings in its path. According to CBS, a local medical center reported a “mass casualty level.”