The Apollo Theatre in 2012

Thecollapse of the Apollo Theatre took place on the evening of March 31, 2023, when a tornado struckBelvidere, Illinois, in the United States. A showthere, headlined by thedeath metal bandMorbid Angel, had begun despite advance knowledge of imminent severe weather. Winds of 90 to 100 miles per hour (140 to 160 km/h) caused the failure of the lower roof structure; large amounts of debris fell into the sold-out venue, burying many people. Concertgoers removed debris prior to the arrival of the Belvidere Fire Department. One concertgoer was pronounced dead at the scene and 27 were taken to the hospital, of 48 who suffered non-fatal injuries. The street-facing facade and the upper roof structure were found on the street after the tornado. Following the collapse, the lack of safety protocols despite warning became the subject of multiple lawsuits. The Apollo Theatre was condemned the next day, but reopened that September. (Full article...)