Stage collapses at Big Valley Jamboree during severe thunderstorm

severe thunderstorm

EDMONTON - An unknown number of concertgoers are trapped after a main stage at a music festival collapsed.

The main stage at the Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose, Alta. collapsed when a large storm hit the area, about 95 kilometres southeast of Edmonton.

Rescue efforts are underway. There are no confirmed reports yet about the number of injuries.

Meanwhile, in Edmonton, Heritage Festival organizers evacuated people from Hawrelak Park because of severe storm conditions in the Edmonton area.

Festival attendees were evacuated just before 6 p.m., said festival spokeswoman Leanne Letourneau. The gates are expected to reopen tomorrow at 10 a.m., she said.

Stony Plain-area residents described ``hurricane-like'' weather conditions after a storm ripped through the area late Saturday afternoon.

``Trees were bent sideways and hail was the size of marbles,'' said Andrew Rain, who works at country club in the area, about 70 kilometres west of Edmonton.

Visibility was so poor he could only see three to five metres in front of him, he said.

Hail rocks as big as loonies damaged the siding of some houses in the Lake Westerra area of Stony Plain, said area resident Tonia Lesann.

``All the siding on the west side of my house is going to have to be replaced,'' she said.

Sheet rain in the area quickly turned to hail. High winds knocked over trees, power lines and street signs in the area, Lesann said.

The storm began just before 5 p.m., and lasted about one hour before dying down, he said.

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Edmonton area. As of 6:25 p.m., Environment Canada was reporting wind gusts of up to 100 kilometres per hour in the city.

Large hail, strong winds and heavy downpours are expected to hit Edmonton by 6 p.m., meteorologist Alyssa Charbonneau said.

``People should definitely take shelter,'' she said.