Belvidere Apollo Theatre collapse
FAread by Cardboard Moose · recorded 2025 · 0:15:50 · 11.7 MB
On the evening of March 31, 2023, a tornado struck the Apollo Theatre in Belvidere, Illinois, United States, which caused the ceiling to collapse during a sold-out concert, killing one person and injuring 48 more. The show had begun despite predictions of imminent severe weather as part of a historic tornado outbreak. During the opening act, a half-hour storm break was instituted, during which the tornado struck the theater. Winds of 90–100 miles per hour (140–160 km/h) caused the lower roof structure to fail. Debris fell into the venue and onto concertgoers, burying several people. Concertgoers helped remove debris before the arrival of the Belvidere Fire Department, which evacuated the building and handled search and rescue operations with emergency management agencies from three neighboring counties. One concertgoer was pronounced dead at the scene; 48 more were injured, of whom 27 were taken to hospitals by ambulance. The structure's facade and upper roof were thrown into the street. The venue was condemned the next day; it rebuilt and reopened that September. Eleven lawsuits were filed in connection with the collapse.
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