Six people were injured Saturday after a floor collapsed during a wedding in New Hampshire, sending almost 70 people falling into the basement, officials said.
Tamworth Fire/Rescue responded to The Preserve at Chocorua at 4:33 p.m. Saturday following reports that a floor had collapsed during a wedding, according to a joint statement from Tamworth Fire/Rescue Chief Richard Colcord and New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Sean P. Toomey.
The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office also responded to the scene, and investigators determined that 144 people were inside the venue when the floor collapsed, causing around 70 guests to fall through an approximately 20-by-20-foot opening into the basement. Callers reported that over 100 people were on the floor when it collapsed, and several people were trapped under beams and farming equipment, according to the statement.
Venue staff and wedding guests provided initial first aid before first responders arrived on scene. Firefighters helped additional guests and performed on-scene evaluations on those who were injured. (RELATED: Two Dead, Several Injured In Plane Crash At LaGuardia Airport)
Six people were transported to local area hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries. Four of these individuals have been released from the hospital as of publication. No fatalities were reported, according to The Associated Press (AP).
While an investigation by the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office remains in its early stages, officials believe the building was over capacity ahead of the floor collapse.
Toomey said his office would look at “fire code and building code and evaluate that as part of our investigation” while speaking with WMUR about the incident.
Toomey also praised the venue staff and wedding guests who rendered first aid to the injured before first responders arrived on scene while speaking with NBC 10 Boston.
“We’re very fortunate that more people didn’t get seriously injured out here tonight. It’s a testament to the folks, the staff and the other wedding guests, that stepped up immediately to help render aid and get people out of harm’s way, get them to safety. I think the overall outcome between their initial actions and then the actions of the fire department made a big difference here tonight,” he said.
The wedding guests were gathered at the venue’s Sap House building. The Sap House is described as “a quintessential New England Maple Sugar shack with endless uses,” according to the venue’s website.