Staff reports 5:40 a.m.
Sunday, March 22, 2026 5:42 am
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TAMWORTH - An investigation is under way today after a floor collapsed at a packed wedding venue in Tamworth on Saturday leaving many injured.
The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. drawing Tamworth Fire/Rescue The Preserve at Chocorua at 88 Philbrick Neighborhood Road for reports that a floor had collapsed during a wedding. Callers reported that more than 100 people were on the floor when it collapsed into the basement, and multiple people were trapped under beams as well as farming equipment.
When first responders arrived on scene, they learned that venue staff and wedding guests had already provided initial first aid to some guests and used ladders to help individuals who fell through the collapsed floor. Firefighters assisted additional guests and began on-scene evaluations of those who reported injuries.
Six adults were transported by ambulance with nonlife threatening injuries and many other guests were treated at the scene. Four of those hospitalized have since been released.
The full extent of injuries as a result of the incident remains under investigation.
Investigators with the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal's Office are leading the investigation into the incident. The preliminary investigation has determined that at the start of the wedding ceremony, 144 guests were in the venue's Sap House building when the floor collapsed and nearly 70 people, about half of the guests, fell through an approximately 20-by-20-foot opening into the basement.
While the investigation is in its early stages, investigators believe the building was over capacity prior to the floor collapse.
Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is encouraged to contact the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal's Office at (603) 223-4289 or fmo@dos.nh.gov.