MEXICO CITY: During Sunday mass, a church roof in northern Mexico collapsed, resulting in the tragic loss of at least five lives and numerous injuries, according to local authorities and media reports. Rescue teams are currently sifting through the debris in hopes of finding any survivors.
Videos circulated on social media captured the moment when the church roof gave way, with plumes of gray smoke rising into the air, followed by the collapse of the yellow brick outer walls.
The civil protection agency for Tamaulipas state, which shares a border with Texas, shared images of the severely damaged church in Ciudad Madero and confirmed that their personnel are engaged in the search for survivors.
Mexico’s Reforma newspaper, citing Adrian Oseguera, the mayor of Ciudad Madero, a city located on the Gulf coast near the port of Tampico, reported that five individuals, including a child, lost their lives in the tragic incident.
Bishop Jose Armando Alvarez, representing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tampico, revealed that the church roof crumbled as worshipers were partaking in communion and urged others to offer prayers for those who survived.
“In this moment, efforts are underway to rescue those who may still be trapped under the rubble,” Bishop Armando stated in a recorded message that was widely shared on social media.
Source: Reuters