1 Dead, Dozens Injured as Roof Collapses at Concert

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The front awning of the Apollo Theater in Belvidere, Ill.

One person was killed and dozens more were injured on Friday (March 31, 2023), when the roof collapsed at a concert venue in Belvidere, Ill. The city was in an indirect path of dangerous tornadoes that had torn from Texas to Michigan. Roughly 260 people were attending a metal concert at the Apollo Theater, situated roughly 10 minutes from Rockford, Ill., at the time of the roof collapse amid strong wind gusts from the severe weather. They were there to see four bands: Morbid Angel, Revocation, Skeletal Remains and Crypta, a Brazilian death metal band. The New York Times reported that after Crypta’s set, the venue announced that the concert was being paused due to the storm. Not long after that announcement, the roof collapsed.

Late Friday night, Morbid Angel had announced on their Facebook page that they were cancelling their performance that evening. “We ask anyone who is still traveling to the venue to please seek shelter and stay safe,” they wrote. “We are currently sheltering in place, and want to extend our support and hope that everyone at the show tonight is safe. Right now our focus is on making sure everyone in the venue tonight is ok and gets home.”

Many of the injuries are said to be severe. The Belvidere fire chief, Shawn Schadle, said that everyone attending the concert was accounted for. The city had been notified of a tornado warning at around 7:45 p.m. CT. Schadle reported that the fire department was notified of the roof and front awning collapse just 10 minutes later.

Watch several reports from area news agencies