5 killed as Indiana State Fair Stage collapses

Updated: 2011-08-15 06:43

(Xinhua)

  Comments() Print Mail Large Medium  Small 分享按钮 0

CHICAGO - A fifth people was confirmed dead Sunday and 45 others were injured after a stage collapsed at the Indiana State Fair Saturday, the Fox News reported.

Indiana State Police said that four people died when the collapse happened and the fifth person died overnight at a hospital. Besides, 45 people were also taken to hospitals and the number is expected to rise because some people may have taken themselves to hospitals.  

The collapse came moments after an announcer warned of the advancing storm and gave instructions on what to do in event of an evacuation. Hundreds of fans awaiting a performance by the band Sugarland rushed afterward amid the chaos.

The chief meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Indiana estimates a wind gust of 60 to 70 mph hit the stage.

Fair officials canceled all activities Sunday. The fair, which runs through August 21, was expected to resume Monday with a service honoring the victims.

Hot Topics

The European Central Bank (ECB) held a conference call late on Sunday ahead of the market opening, pledging the ECB will step in to buy eurozone bonds with efforts to forestall the euro zone's debt crisis from spreading.