Six Hospitalised as Floor Collapses at New Hampshire Wedding Venue
Six individuals were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries following a dramatic floor collapse at a wedding venue in Tamworth, New Hampshire, on Saturday afternoon. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. while approximately 140 guests were present for a wedding celebration, according to a joint statement from the Tamworth Fire/Rescue Department and the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal's Office.
Chaotic Scene as Floor Buckles
The Fire Marshal's Office reported that more than 100 people had gathered in a building known as the Sap House at the venue, called the Preserve at Chocorua, when the floor suddenly buckled. This created a substantial 20-foot by 20-foot opening, plunging about 70 attendees into the basement below. Several individuals became trapped under fallen beams and farm equipment that had been stored on the lower level, adding to the chaos.
Before emergency responders arrived, other guests and venue staff courageously assisted those who had fallen, using ladders to help them climb out of the basement and providing first aid for minor injuries. The exact number of people treated at the scene remains unclear, with investigators still working to determine the full extent of injuries sustained.
Investigation Points to Overcapacity
Authorities have launched a thorough investigation into the collapse, with the Fire Marshal's Office and Tamworth Fire/Rescue Department collaborating closely. Preliminary findings suggest that the building "was over capacity" prior to the incident, as stated in an official release. A spokesperson confirmed late Saturday that four of the six hospitalised individuals had already been released, and thankfully, there were no fatalities.
A photograph released by the Fire Marshal's Office depicts a disturbing scene: a chandelier and decorative white bunting still adorning the ceiling above the buckled floorboards, with stacked benches that had been used for wedding seating visible amidst the wreckage.
First Responder Account
A first responder who arrived shortly after 911 calls were made described the scene over scanner traffic, noting that half the floor of the building, where the wedding ceremony was scheduled to take place, had fallen into the basement. The responder estimated about 145 people were present and requested additional personnel to interview witnesses, while also mentioning that rescuers were carefully extracting individuals from the building's basement.
Tamworth, a town with a population of roughly 2,800 located approximately 115 miles north of Concord, New Hampshire, near the western border of Maine, has been left shaken by the event. Attempts to contact the venue or MaineHealth Memorial Hospital on Saturday night were unsuccessful.
