LANCASTER, N.H. — Safety officials in New Hampshire are investigating the collapse of a circus tent during a severe storm that killed a father and daughter and injured about 22 others.

“We all this morning have heavy hearts,” Gov. Maggie Hassan said early today. “We lost two lives — a father and a daughter — at an event that was supposed to be fun.”

Authorities were looking at how the tent was put up at the Lancaster Fairgrounds, about 90 miles north of the capital of Concord. They also were talking to survivors and witnesses.

Heidi Medeiros, who was at the circus with her 3-year-old son, said it suddenly went dark and she heard someone screaming, “Get out, get out.”

“I see these very large metal poles that are in the ground and go through the top of the tent, I see them starting to come out of the ground and fly up, into the air toward us,” she said. She said 10 to 30 seconds later, the pole hit the bleacher where she and her son had been sitting.

Fire Marshal William Degnan said it was the first time his agency had investigated a tent collapse. He asked that anyone with images or video of the event to contact his office.

The storm, packing 60 mph wind gusts and hail, blew through around 5:30 p.m. Monday, just as the first of two scheduled shows was beginning.

Degnan said about 100 people were inside the tent at the time, and a man and a girl died. Their names were not released. The injured were taken to four regional hospitals. Their conditions were not immediately known.

The circus operator, Sarasota, Fla.-based Walker International Events, did not return a call seeking comment late Monday. The circus was scheduled to head to Bradford, Vt., for shows on today and Wednesday.

The National Weather Service had issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the area during the time of the collapse, but Degnan couldn’t immediately say if the spectators were aware of the storm’s strength.