- Naileth Guerra and Sharay Maldonado were killed after the rood of a country house were a wedding was being celebrated caved in Saturday in Colombia
- Authorities believe the collapse was caused by blockage in the home’s drainage pipes
A maid of honor and a ring bearer killed and at least 30 people were injured after the roof collapsed at a country house in northern Colombia province of Cesar.
More than 80 guests gathered to celebrate the wedding of Ebed Calderón and Camilo Andrade when the ceiling caved on Saturday night around 8:30 pm at Casa Hotel Riasco in municipality of Valledupar.
Authorities said the roof collapsed have been caused by blockage in the drain pipes that didn’t allow the heavy rain to flow that fell in the municipality of Valledupar on Saturday night.
‘The drain pipes were apparently covered in dry leaves and debris. When it rained, the water had nowhere to go and the concrete structure collapsed,’ said Petra Romero, director of Cesar’s Risk Management Office.’
The victims were identified as Naileth Guerra, 22, and Sharay Maldonado, 13.
The injured guests were rushed to three area clinics and one hospital.
Naileth Guerra, the maid of honor, was killed after the roof of a country house collapsed during a wedding celebration Casa Hotel Riasco inn Cesar, Colombia on Saturday night. Authorities said the tragedy may have been caused by heavy rain in the municipality of Valledupar
Sharay Maldonado, the ring bearer, was seeking refuge under a table when the roof collapsed over her
A wedding guest attempts to help a person crawling under the rubble after the roof collapsed at a wedding venue in Colombia on Saturday night. Two people were killed
First responders carry out one of the 30 guests who were injured by the roof collapse
At least three people are in critical condition, including Guerra’s mother, local media outlets reported.
Footage on social media showed an adult attempting to help a young girl who was trapped under the debris.
One of the wedding guests told El Tiempo newspaper that Guerra and Maldonado were sought protection under tables after a lightning strike briefly knocked out the electricity.
‘In the midst of the downpour, it felt like a thunder explosion. That’s when the lights went out. It returned immediately,’ the witness said.
‘A few minutes later, one of the structures there collapsed. People ran away. Naileth and the girl tried to take refuge under the tables, but they were crushed.’
Deivis Hernández told Noticias RCN that he heard a loud noise just moments before the roof gave way.
‘We heard a noise like when the branch of a giant tree breaks. That was more or less the sound,’ he said. ‘We were all alarmed and suddenly, in a matter of seconds, everything began to collapse. We were left in the dark, we began to look for the exit.’
Ebed Calderón and Camilo Andrade wedding celebration was marred by tragedy Saturday night after the maid of honor and ring girl were killed after the roof of the country house they rented caved in during a rain storm
Authorities are investigating the collapse of a country house’s roof at Casa Hotel Riasco that left two people dead and at least 30 injured
Ebed Calderón shared a photo of her surrounded by her bridesmaids, including Naileth Guerra, the maid of honor, who was killed
Authorities in the northern Colombia province of Cesar believe the country house’s roof caved in because the drain pipes were blocked with leaves and garbage
Just hours before the wedding, Calderón shared a video on social media surrounded by her five bridesmaids.
Calderón lamented Guerra’s death in a heartbreaking post on her Instagram account Sunday.
‘My beautiful friend, my queen, my cutie, the one with the noblest heart, I can’t believe all this. My God, I begged you so much,’ she wrote.
‘My soul hurts. We had so many dreams. It hurts me a lot,’ she added. ‘I just ask God to bring immense comfort to all of us who love you with our hearts. ‘My God, I don’t understand, Father, why, my God, help us.’