New Hampshire: Tent collapse leaves 2 dead, 15 injured

A circus tent collapse in Lancaster, New Hampshire on 3 August left two dead and 15 injured. The tent collapsed after a severe storm hit the Lancaster fairgrounds, around 90 miles north of Concord.

According to authorities, 250 people were inside the tent when it collapsed during a circus performance. Governor Maggie Hassan tweeted, "State officials working to assist w/ the situation in Lancaster and will continue to monitor the situation closely."

Hassan said the State Emergency Operations Center had been activated and that the Disaster Behavioral Response Team was headed to Lancaster "to provide assistance to affected individuals, first responders."

State Fire Marshall Bill Degnan said some of the injuries are believed to be serious, CBS News reported. CBS Boston reported that the National Weather Service had issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the area during the time of the tent collapse.

Walker International Events, the Florida-based circus company was scheduled to do another two shows on 3 August before heading to nearby Vermont on 4 August.

According to CBS News, the New Hampshire collapse follows a day after a man died and a dozen others were injured when a tent was blown off its moorings during a brief storm in a Chicago suburb. The annual Prairie Fest attracted around 5,000 people when the tent collapsed.

The Chicago-area storm also forced Lollapalooza music festival to briefly shut down on 2 August.