- Newlyweds Paolo Mugnaini and Valeria Ybarra spent their wedding night in the emergency room
A wedding party had been dancing all night in a 15th-century Tuscan monastery when the floor collapsed beneath them, causing the bride, groom and their guests to fall more than 13 feet. according to reports.
Guests said it felt like an earthquake when the gaping hole opened and they plunged into the room below, falling into rubble and plaster in front of a fresco of the Last Supper.
Newlyweds Paolo Mugnaini and Valeria Ybarra, both 26, spent their wedding night in hospital along with many of their friends, with around 40 partygoers reportedly requiring medical treatment.
One guest described the scene as ‘apocalyptic’ and said a ‘dense cloud of smoke’ billowed as the floor gave way before people were heard screaming in pain.
Police and fire brigades arrived at the historic Convento di Giaccherino wedding venue in Pistoia around 8pm, and hospitals in the region were put on high alert.
Guests said it felt like an earthquake when the gaping hole opened and they plunged into the room below, falling into rubble and plaster in front of a fresco of the Last Supper. In the photo: the scene
Newlyweds Paolo Mugnaini and Valeria Ybarra, both 26, (pictured together) spent their wedding night in hospital alongside many of their friends, with around 40 partygoers reportedly requiring medical treatment
There were no fatalities in the Saturday evening disaster and many of those hospitalized were later discharged, while six were 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.
The majority of the partygoers left behind are believed to be young friends of Mr Mugnaini and Ms Ybarra, a student from Houston, Texas.
The groom, a teacher from Florence, told La Repubblica: ‘We found ourselves being sucked down while we were dancing. It was panic.
‘Then there was just dust and rubble, we couldn’t see anything. Next to me was a friend of mine who fainted and bled a lot.’
The couple, who were given beds next to each other at San Jacopo Hospital, added: ‘We were very scared, our wedding night was spent in the emergency room.’
An onlooker said it was ‘heartbreaking’ to see the couple in hospital with the bride’s wedding dress hanging up on what should have been a happy occasion.
The pair were later released from hospital after health checks, broadcaster Rai reported.
Carabinieri police Lieutenant Colonel Ruben Ruggeri said: “Luckily no one was underneath because a lot of very heavy equipment fell along with the people.”
Tuscan President Eugenio Giani said after the incident: ‘It could have been a terrible tragedy. I would like to thank all the care providers and medical staff involved.’
The cause of the collapse is still unknown, but police have reportedly taken over the monastery and are investigating.
The families who own the monastery describe it as a “tragic and unpredictable event,” according to the local news channel ReportPistoia.
They expressed their sorrow over the incident to the families involved, adding that they will cooperate with authorities in investigating the incident.
