One dead, dozens injured after strong winds hit Buddhist meditation center in Alberta

A meditator died and dozens more were injured after a tent collapsed due to heavy rain at the Westlock Meditation Center in Busby, Alberta, Canada. The incident happened around 17:30 p.m. on July 31, about 70 kilometers northwest of the provincial capital Edmonton.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) indicated that a severe storm accompanied by strong winds caused the collapse. “A severe storm occurred with high winds and at one point the tent structure collapsed on many occupants,” said RCMP Corporal Troy Savinkoff. (MSN)

Michael Nguyen, a spokesman for the Westlock Meditation Center, said about 400 people were participating in an 11-day monastic retreat. Organized by the Edmonton Buddhist Research Institute since 2002, the retreat invites participants to live like monks and nuns. The institute declined to comment when contacted by CBC News.

Nguyen said all participants were adults of different genders from Australia, Belgium, Germany, the United States, Vietnam and other countries. Most of the participants were gathered in a large white tent for dinner when the storm hit.

On July 31, the area where the meditation center was located was under a severe thunderstorm watch. Efforts were underway to move participants to safety when the wind intensified, causing the center to collapse.

RCMP have not released information on the deceased person's age or hometown, but Nguyen confirmed the victim was not from Canada.

On August 1, the meditation center was cordoned off with duct tape, revealing the remains of the collapsed tent and black support poles. White plastic sheeting was scattered over the tables and chairs.

Emergency services responded quickly to the incident, and at least nine ambulances transported around 40 injured people to area hospitals. According to Corporal Savinkoff, all the injured were in stable condition. The STARS air ambulance transported a woman in her 70s to the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton. His state of health remains unknown.

At least 50 other people suffered minor injuries, some of whom were treated at the scene. Corporal Savinkoff described the scene as “organized chaos,” with more than 20 police officers from neighboring communities responding, including Westlock, Morinville, Parkland County and Barrhead. (MSN) Firefighters from Busby, Pickardville, Clyde and the Town of Westlock also responded to the scene.

Westlock County Councilwoman Christine Wiese expressed the community's grief in a press release: “This incident has deeply affected our community, and we are united in grief and support. » (MSN)

Alberta Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis expressed his condolences on X (formerly Twitter). “My thoughts are with the friends and family of the loved one who tragically passed away last night and those injured in the tent collapse in Westlock,” Ellis wrote. “The Government of Alberta extends its deepest condolences to the loved ones of those who died and is here to support our first responders and the community during this difficult time. » (MSN)

Investigators from the Provincial Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety have been on site since the evening of July 31 to assess the incident. The RCMP is also investigating. “We have investigators on site. They will question everyone there. As you can imagine, this is a major investigation,” said Corporal Savinkoff. (CityNews)

“This is a truly tragic incident,” said Corporal Savinkoff. “We have one death and serious injuries. It will take a long time for people to recover, both emotionally and physically. » (MSN)

Nguyen said the Westlock Meditation Center was consulting with lawyers about the tent collapse and deciding how to proceed with the retreat, which officially began Aug. 1. Despite the tragedy, organizers plan to continue the retreat, although they are considering making changes to the program.

Nguyen added that medical professionals and mental health professionals from the organization would visit injured participants in the hospital to provide support. The retreat, an important event for many international visitors, will take place with adjustments to ensure safety and provide necessary care to those affected.

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One dead, dozens injured as tent collapses at Buddhist meditation center near Edmonton (MSN)
Tent at Alberta meditation center collapses in high winds, killing one person and injuring dozens (CityNews)
Deadly tent collapses at Buddhist meditation center near Edmonton (CBC)

One dead, dozens injured after strong winds hit Buddhist meditation center in Alberta

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