No one injured in Missouri church roof collapse

WEBB CITY, Mo. — About half a dozen people were inside First Baptist Church, Webb City, Mo., when a large part of the building’s roof collapsed early Jan. 15 following an ice storm but no one was injured. "These people were working in the office," Capt. Steve Welch of the Webb City Fire Department told The Joplin Globe. "They said they heard crackling sounds all morning but just didn’t pay any attention to it. Then they heard it collapse and they ran."

Welch said the steeple is down. The collapse affected much of the sanctuary area at the south end of the church, The Globe reported.

First, Webb City, Mo., with more than 1,000 members, was the victim of a powerful winter storm that killed at least 36 people in six states by Jan. 15 and left about 330,000 homes and businesses in Missouri without electricity, The Associated Press said.