The casualty figure continues to rise, and after you read past the headline and actually see the video of the stage collapsing at the Indiana State Fair on Saturday night, it’s easy to see why.

Five people are confirmed dead, and at least 45 have been reported injured, according to Indiana State Police. Authorities say injuries are so severe that the death toll may rise.

The deadly stage collapse occurred just before 9 pm local time — the hit country music act Sugarland was preparing to take the stage as the headliner. A severe thunderstorm warning had just been issued for Marion County when wind gusts of 60 to 70 miles per hour came rolling through the field.

The wind gusts seem to have preceded the storm, and no official evacuation order had been given prior to the stage collapse. Some fair-goers had left voluntarily.

“David Lindquist, a reporter for the Indianapolis Star who was there to cover the concert, told 6News that an announcement was made that weather was moving in about two minutes before the winds kicked up, but those in front of the stage had little time to get out of the weather, if they wanted to do so.”

(via Matt Kryger/The Star)

Authorities set up an on-site emergency center at the fairgrounds, while volunteers ran to the stage to help rescue victims who had been trapped by the collapse.

The Indiana State Fair canceled events for Sunday. It plans to reopen on Monday “with a special ceremony remembering those who died and were hurt,” 6News reports.

Here’s some video of the aftermath:

Click next page for more news and video on the deadly stage collapse…

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