Multiple people were injured after a floor collapsed at a wedding venue in eastern New Hampshire, sending nearly 70 people plunging into the building's basement, authorities said.
The incident occurred on Saturday, March 21, as almost 150 guests attended a wedding ceremony at the Preserve at Chocorua in Tamworth, according to ajoint news releasefrom theTamworth Fire/Rescue Departmentand theNew Hampshire State Fire Marshal's Office. Local fire crews responded to the scene at around 4:33 p.m local time after receiving reports that a floor had collapsed during a wedding.
"Callers reported that more than 100 people were on the floor when it collapsed into the basement, and multiple people were trapped under beams as well as farming equipment," authorities said in the news release.
Six adults were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, including four who have since been released, according to authorities. Multiple other guests were treated at the scene.
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"The full extent of injuries as a result of the incident remains under investigation," authorities said in the news release.
The Tamworth Fire/Rescue Department and the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal's Office are conducting a joint investigation into the incident. Authorities have asked anyone with information that may help with the investigation to contact the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal's Office.
A spokesperson from the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal's Office told USA TODAY on Sunday, March 22, that the agency did not have additional updates to provide on the investigation.
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Investigators believe building was over capacity before floor collapse
Multiple mutual aid agencies from nearby communities also responded to the scene or provided station coverage, according to authorities.
When first responders arrived at the scene, authorities discovered that staff at the venue and wedding guests had already provided initial first aid to some guests and used ladders to help those who fell through the collapsed floor. Fire crews provided additional aid to guests and began on-scene evaluations for people who reported injuries.
A preliminary investigation determined that 144 guests were in the venue's Sap House building for the wedding ceremony when the floor collapsed, according to authorities. About half of the guests, nearly 70 people, fell through a roughly 20-by-20-foot opening into the building's basement.
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Authorities noted that while the investigation is in its early stages, investigators believe the building was at over capacity before the floor collapsed.
Founded in 1778, the Preserve at Chocorua describes itself on itsFacebook pageas a "stunning 26-acre natural retreat encompassing a historic farmhouse, barn, carriage House, and cottages." According to the venue's website, its Sap House building is a "New England Maple Sugar shack" that can host intimate ceremonies or an indoor and outdoor cocktail hour.
Tamworth is a town with a population of over 2,900 people, according to the New Hampshire Employment Security. The town is located in Carroll County, between the Lakes Region and the White Mountain National Forest.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:New Hampshire venue: Floor collapse leaves multiple people injured