ITALY – This is the terrifying moment a dance floor caved in during a wedding party in a 15th century Tuscan monastery, sending the bride, groom and their guests tumbling 13ft.
How it Happened
Video shows the wedding party, including newlyweds Paolo Mugnaini and Valeria Ybarra, both 26, dancing the night away inside the Italian venue.
But seconds into the footage, a gaping hole is seen opening up in the floor, sending dozens of guests tumbling into the room below.
As the dust settles, horrified partygoers can be staring down into the hole as the injured guests scream in terror while laying amongst the rubble and plaster.
The Couple Spent Their Night in Hospital
Mugnaini and Ybarra spent their wedding night in hospital alongside many of their friends, with around 30 guests needing treatment.
It was Apocalyptic
Guests said it felt like an earthquake as the gaping hole opened and sent guests crashing down below, with the partygoers landing in front of a fresco of the Last Supper.
One guest described the scene as ‘apocalyptic’ and said that a ‘dense cloud of smoke’ billowed as the floor gave way before people could be heard screaming out in pain.
Police and firefighters rushed to the scene at the historic Convento di Giaccherino wedding venue in Pistoia on 13 January, and hospitals in the region were placed on high alert.
Now the couple have filed a complaint against the venue with local prosecutors and handed over the footage as evidence.
Investigation is on
The incident is being investigated by the Pistoia Public Prosecutor’s Office for causing injury by negligence.
Prosecutors have since closed down the building and are looking into its structural integrity.
There were no fatalities in the disaster and many of those admitted to hospital were later discharged, while six were said to be in a serious condition with non-life threatening injuries.
Most of the 200 guests at the couple’s lavish wedding had left the venue when the collapse occurred.
