A religious celebration in Ethiopia turned to horror on Wednesday, October 1, when scaffolding inside a packed church suddenly gave way, killing at least 30 worshippers and injuring more than 200 others.

The collapse happened at the Arerti Mariam Church in Amhara, about 80 miles north of Addis Ababa, during a massive gathering for the annual St. Mary celebration. Thousands of people had filled the church in the early hours of the morning when the wooden structure crumbled.

Local officials say the confirmed victims range in age from 25 to 80, with more casualties feared as rescuers continue to pull people from the wreckage. “The sound of the wooden structure giving way was loud and terrifying,” one eyewitness told the BBC.

Some witnesses said worshippers had climbed onto the scaffolding to get a better view of the ceiling when it collapsed. “We all had gathered in prayers when all of a sudden the scaffolding collapsed and people started falling from the ceiling,” Mikias Mebratu told the AP, adding that he lost three friends in the chaos.

Among the injured are children, according to clinicians treating victims at a nearby hospital. Local leaders have called the event “a tragic loss for the community.”

In a statement, Ethiopia’s government expressed its “deep condolences” to the families affected and emphasized that “safety must be given priority” in all future construction.

The deadly collapse is now under investigation.