At least four people were killed and 40 people were injured in a stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair during a severe thunderstorm on Saturday night, according to local media reports.
Indiana State Police confirmed the fatalities and said the injuries to some victims are so severe that the death toll could rise.
Information about the people who died wasn't immediately released. Indiana State Police 1st Sgt. Dave Bursten said that the Marion County Coroner's Office had confirmed the identities of two of the people who were killed by early Sunday morning.
The number of injured could also increase, as authorities don't know how many people drove themselves to hospitals or were taken there by means other than an ambulance.
The collapse happened about 8:50 p.m. as Sugarland, a country music act, was preparing to perform on the fair's main stage.
The National Weather Service said winds estimated at 60 to 70 mph buffeted the stage ahead of a line of severe thunderstorms. A severe thunderstorm warning had been issued for Marion County before the collapse.
"What hit really wasn't a storm. It was a significant gust of wind," Bursten said.
David Lindquist, a reporter for the Indianapolis Star who was there to cover the concert, told reporters an announcement was made about two minutes before the winds rose that inclement weather was moving in, but those in front of the stage had little time to get away, if they had wanted to do so.
"There is an evacuation plan that is prepared. There were preparations in progress in anticipation of a severe storm arriving around 9:15," Bursten said. "Personnel were being put in place for an evacuation if that were deemed necessary."
An on-site emergency center was set up at the fairgrounds immediately after the collapse. People at the concert converged on the collapsed stage in the immediate aftermath, trying to pull the injured from beneath the mangled wreckage.
"It's gratifying to know that people at a moment's notice will jump in to help others," Bursten said.
"After the stage fell, it was complete chaos. Everyone froze," said Jason Scofield, who was at the concert. "There were hundreds of people trying to lift the front of the stage up."
Indiana Task Force One was called in to search the debris, along with several K-9 units. The K-9 units were called back at about 11:30 p.m., as the search beneath the stage was completed.
The Indiana State Fair canceled events for Sunday and planned to reopen on Monday with a special ceremony remembering those who died and were hurt.
"Our heartfelt feelings for the families of those who have lost loved ones," Bursten said. "Pray for the families who have lost members."