CIUDAD MADERO: At least 10 people were killed, including three children, and 60 others sustained injuries when the roof of a church in Ciudad Madero, northern Mexico, collapsed during Sunday Mass. The incident took place as worshippers gathered for a day of celebration that quickly turned into a scene of chaos and devastation.
Approximately 100 worshippers were inside the church at the time of the collapse, with nearly 30 individuals believed to have been trapped beneath the rubble when the roof caved in. Search and rescue operations were launched immediately, with emergency responders, local volunteers, and specialist teams working tirelessly to locate survivors amidst the wreckage. Thermal imaging cameras were employed to ensure no one remained trapped under the debris.
The state security spokesman’s office confirmed that ten people lost their lives due to the collapse, attributing the incident to a probable structural failure. Among the casualties were a toddler and a couple with their eight-year-old son. Twenty-three of the injured individuals remain hospitalized, with two in serious condition.
Church Collapse Incident in Northern Mexico
The collapse occurred at a crucial moment during the Mass, as worshippers lined up to take communion, a climactic ritual in the Catholic service. Witnesses described a horrifying scene as bricks, concrete, and steel support structures came crashing down on the worshippers, burying them under the rubble. Specialist teams from the Red Cross and local authorities utilized dogs and thermal imaging equipment in their search efforts, holding onto hope of finding survivors within air pockets under the pews.
One survivor, Josefina Ramírez, who was attending the baptism of her godchild, expressed her gratitude for being alive. “Thank God, I’m alive. I feared I would not see my beautiful family again. I don’t know how we got out,” she wrote, reflecting the sentiments of many who narrowly escaped the disaster.
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Ángel Vargas, the priest conducting the baptisms when the tragedy occurred, expressed his shock and sorrow, saying, “They came to search for heaven for the little ones and found eternity. I want the families to find peace. All of this is unfathomable.”
Rescue efforts continued throughout the night and into Monday morning, with two cranes deployed to remove the debris, allowing search teams better access to the affected areas. The governor of Tamaulipas confirmed that all missing individuals had been accounted for, bringing a glimmer of closure to the heart-wrenching incident.
