BARBOURSVILLE, W.Va. (WSAZ) -Structural issues are believed to be the reason behind a partial structural collapse at a Barboursville church on Wednesday, according to first responders.
Matt Waskey, the Senior Pastor at Elmwood Missionary Baptist Church, said he was shocked when he got word that part of the church collapsed.
“We initially heard it was an explosion. We had heard the church was on fire. That was a bizarre drive-in. Then to get here and see what happened, even though it’s less than we expected destruction of that magnitude is really, very shocking, ” Waskey said.
The incident was reported around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday at Elmwood Missionary Baptist Church in the 3000 block of Martha Road.
Barboursville Fire Chief Andrew Frazier said although officials first believed a gas leak or explosion led to the collapse, investigators do not believe that to be the case. Frazier said structural issues are likely …