The Apollo Theater roof collapses during a concert near Chicago, Illinois, as a storm batters the region with winds hitting 90 miles per hour

An urgent search and rescue mission is underway at an Illinois concert venue after a roof collapsed right after the show started, horror video shows.

Reports of a “mass casualties” event flooded in after the Apollo Theater in Belvidere was reportedly destroyed by brutal 140 km/h winds.

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According to local station Fox 17, several people have been evacuated on stretchers and are awaiting ambulances.

Heavy metal band Morbid Angel was scheduled to perform at 7pm.

About 30 minutes into the concert, a call came in reporting the collapse and multiple injuries, reports CBS News.

A Video posted to Twitter appeared to show the inside of the building, with a fire alarm and people screaming for help.

Some tried to work together to lift huge pieces of debris, while the person taking the video hoped no friend was under the stage.

Outside the theater, bricks from siding could be seen strewn on the street, and more debris hit parked cars.

“I’m not leaving you,” the person is heard saying.

The band released a devastating statement announcing that the concert had been canceled “due to a tornado that hit the venue.”

“We are asking anyone still traveling to the venue to please shelter and stay safe,” Morbid Angel wrote, saying they are sheltering in place.

“Right now our focus is on making sure everyone is okay at the venue tonight and getting home.”

Severe weather was forecast for the area with strong winds of up to 90 miles per hour.

According to initial reports, trees also fell on nearby cars.

Bricks were seen strewn on the road as nearby trees were uprooted from their roots.

A large group of people hovered behind yellow police tape as first responders approached the scene.

Law enforcement officials have not offered any information on whether anyone was injured in the vandalization.

The theater opened in 1921 to stage plays and films and has been used for live shows in recent years.

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