Tragedy strikes as a roof caves in, leaving casualties and injuries during a church service in Ciudad Madero.
Tragedy strikes as a roof caves in, leaving casualties and injuries during a church service in Ciudad Madero.
CIUDAD MADERO, Mexico — Nine people were killed and over fifty injured in Mexico’s Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas state. This is after a roof collapsed during Church mass on Sunday morning.
“At least nine people were killed and two people seriously injured on Sunday after the roof of a church in northern Mexico collapsed,” said officials.
Among those who perished were three children, including a 1-and-a-half-year-old boy.
“Preliminary reports show that approximately one hundred people were attending the mass in Ciudad Madero at the time of the incident, according to a statement from security services in the state of Tamaulipas. Thirty people were believed to be buried in the rubble,” contend officials.
“At least 60 people were injured, with two people sustaining serious injuries,” said Tamaulipas security spokesperson.
The roof’s collapse occurred during a collective baptism, this is according to the Diocese of Tampico. “About 60 people were injured, and 23 of them remained hospitalized on Monday morning,” said the Tamaulipas State security spokesman’s office.
By Monday morning the number had risen to ten “Unfortunately, 10 people are confirmed dead. Of these, five are women, two men and three children,” said Americo Villarreal, governor of Tamaulipas.
Operating under floodlights, military personnel responded and supported emergency services, they deployed rescue dogs as well as earthmoving machines to locate and flash out survivors from the rubbles of the church.
Numerous ambulances, police patrol cars, and police alongside military personnel were at the church site. Moreover, several people gathered in search of family members who were in the church.
“The roof of a church has collapsed during the celebration of the Eucharist,” “In this moment the necessary work is being carried out to pull out the people who are still under the rubble,” said Bishop Jose Armando Alvarez, the bishop of the local diocese.
Shortly after it gave way, survivors used chairs to vandalize windows in desperate attempts to exit as some screamed that children were still trapped inside.
Onlookers gathered around the accident scene early Monday to pray in solidarity with the victims. “We join in prayer with our sister diocese Tampico to intercede for our killed and injured brothers,” noted the Archdiocese of Mexico.
Edited by Judy J. Rotich and Newsdesk Manager
