One person is dead and several others are injured after a tent collapsed at a Buddhist meditation centre Wednesday evening in a small community northwest of Edmonton.
RCMP say a structure collapsed around 5:30 p.m. at the Westlock Meditation Centre in Busby, Alta., about 70 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. They say there were reports that severe weather caused the collapse.
Several injured people were taken to area hospitals, and one person died from their injuries, an RCMP news release said.
The centre was scheduled to host an 11-day-long retreat starting on Thursday.
Alberta Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis posted on X, formerly Twitter, stating that a tent collapsed and multiple EMS responded to the incident.
Area was under thunderstorm watch
“We are aware of an event in the Westlock area where a tent has collapsed and has required multiple EMS and first responders,” wrote Ellis.
“There is limited information at this time but Alberta’s government is there to support our first responders during this difficult situation.”
The Westlock area was under a severe thunderstorm watch Wednesday evening.
RCMP say Occupational Health and Safety have investigators on site. The RCMP is also investigating the incident.