One Dead and Dozens Injured at Country-Music Festival in Canada

Photos courtesy The Associated Press/The Canadian Press

A bout of severe weather led to the collapse of a stage on Saturday evening at the Big Valley Jamboree, a country-music festival in Alberta, Canada, killing one festival attendee and leaving about 75 injured.

Larry Werner, the festival's producer, said that Jamboree organizers had not received news of the impending weather in enough time to warn the crowd. Around 5:55 p.m., the local police had been informed of unconfirmed reports of a tornado touching down in Edmonton. Werner told the Associated Press that the performers were alerted immediately of the danger and were told to get off the stage so that they could make an announcement to the audience, but there was not enough time. Camrose Police Chief Darrell Kambeitz reports, "the storm struck between 5:57 p.m. and 6 p.m."

Billy Currington was performing when the rain and strong winds began, the power went out and the stage collapsed. Kevin Costner and his band, Modern West, were about to perform when the stage fell, and both the actor and his manager were trapped beneath it, but made it out unscathed.

Currently, one person has been confirmed dead, and two attendees remain in critical condition. Sunday's festival performances were canceled.