In a devastating incident, the roof of a church in northern Mexico collapsed during Sunday Mass, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 10 lives including three children, and leaving over 60 individuals injured.
Search and rescue teams worked tirelessly throughout the night and into Monday morning, combing through the debris in the hope of finding survivors and ensuring the safety of those affected.
Reports indicated that around 30 parishioners were initially trapped beneath the rubble when the church’s roof suddenly gave way. Search and rescue efforts involved rescuers maneuvering under the collapsed roof slabs, and trained dogs were deployed to assist in the search for potential survivors.
According to the Tamaulipas state police, roughly 100 people were inside the church at the time of the roof collapse. The state security spokesman’s office attributed the tragic incident to a “structural failure.” As of the latest update, 10 individuals have been confirmed deceased, while 23 of the 60 injured individuals remain hospitalized, with two in critical condition.
The operation to rescue and provide aid to the victims involved units of the National Guard, state police, state civil defense office, and the Red Cross, demonstrating a coordinated effort to address the crisis.
The Mexican Council of Bishops expressed its condolences and solidarity, saying, “we join in prayer at the tragic loss of life and those injured.”
Bishop José Armando Alvarez of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tampico provided insight into the horrific incident, explaining that the roof collapsed during the administration of Holy Communion at the Santa Cruz church in Ciudad Madero, a coastal city adjacent to Tampico.
Heartbreakingly, among the victims were children, with police reporting that three of the deceased were youngsters. This could be attributed to the fact that baptisms were scheduled to take place at the church on that fateful day.
Nevertheless, amidst the tragedy, there were glimmers of hope. The diocese reported that some individuals had been successfully rescued from underneath the rubble thanks to the efforts of rescue teams and divine providence. Prayers were requested to support ongoing rescue operations, and calls for donations of wood to reinforce the structure emerged to ensure the safety of those involved in the rescue.
Photographs from local media depicted a church building with concrete and brick construction, where portions of the roof had collapsed to the ground. Security camera footage revealed the abrupt downward collapse of the distinctive gabled roof. There were no indications of explosions or external forces at play; the catastrophe appeared to be a result of structural failure.
The relatively thin poured concrete used for the roof raised the possibility of air pockets that could offer hope for survivors underneath. Despite initial efforts to lift roof sections with a crane, these attempts were discontinued due to safety concerns. Rescuers shifted to a manual approach, employing wooden supports and hydraulic jacks to reach those trapped.
Specially trained dogs were deployed to assist in locating survivors, although their initial efforts did not yield positive results. As a result, rescue teams resorted to traditional methods, with team members entering the rubble to call out for signs of life.
While building collapses during earthquakes are not uncommon in Mexico, no seismic activity of significance was reported by the National Seismological Service at the time of the collapse. Likewise, there was no immediate evidence of an explosion.
Ciudad Madero, where this tragic event unfolded, is located approximately 310 miles (500 kilometers) south of Brownsville, Texas. It is situated in the state of Tamaulipas, an area known for drug cartel violence.
However, Ciudad Madero has been relatively spared from such violence, as it lies in the southern part of the state, near the neighboring state of Veracruz.