Church Roof Collapse in Mexico Leaves 11 Dead and 60 Injured
CIUDAD MADERO, Mexico (AP) — A tragic incident unfolded in northern Mexico when the roof of a church collapsed during a service, resulting in the death of at least 11 people and leaving 60 others injured. Fortunately, search and rescue teams have confirmed that no additional individuals are believed to be trapped in the wreckage.
Initial estimates from state police suggested that around 100 people were inside the Santa Cruz church in the Gulf coast city of Ciudad Madero when the roof caved in on Sunday during a baptism. They also feared that approximately 30 parishioners might have been trapped beneath the debris. However, Governor Américo Villarreal later stated that only 70 individuals were believed to have been inside at the time of the collapse. Remarkably, just minutes before the incident, a mass attended by up to 300 people had ended and the majority had already exited the church.
After conducting searches using dogs and thermal imaging cameras, Governor Villarreal expressed optimism that no one else remained trapped, apart from the ten bodies that had already been recovered. He stated, The most likely thing, I can’t affirm it 100%, is that there aren’t any more people trapped. There are no indications of life inside the collapsed area. However, this optimism will face further scrutiny as cranes lift off parts of the collapsed slab, revealing any potential survivors.
Luis González de la Fuente, the state’s civil defense coordinator, announced on Monday that an 11th person had died at a hospital. The victim was identified as an 18-year-old woman who had been listed in serious condition earlier in the day.
The collapse occurred during a mass baptism ceremony at the Santa Cruz church in Ciudad Madero, which is situated near the port city of Tampico. Tragically, three of the deceased were children, and the list of injured included a 4-month-old baby, three 5-year-olds, and two 9-year-olds. Father Pablo Galván, a priest who was present in the church parking lot when the collapse occurred, further emphasized the devastating impact on the most vulnerable: Unfortunately, the elderly and children were those who suffered the most, the ones who were most trapped, the ones who suffered the most deaths, I think.
Authorities are now focused on understanding the cause of the sudden collapse. Security camera footage captured from a block away shows the roof, which had an unusual gabled design, simply collapsing downward. There were no indications of an explosion or any external factors that could have caused the collapse. According to the state security spokesman’s office, it appears to be a structural failure. Governor Villarreal added that no issues with the church had been reported prior to the incident, stating, It was over 50 years old, it was here functioning and operating with no problem, with no sign of any defect.
While building collapses are not uncommon in Mexico during earthquakes, the National Seismological Service did not report any seismic activity at the time of the incident that would explain such damage. The state of Tamaulipas, where Ciudad Madero is located, has been plagued by drug cartel violence, although the city itself has seen relatively less violence compared to other areas.
As investigations into the cause of the church roof collapse continue, the community is left mourning the loss of lives and praying for the recovery of those injured. The tragedy serves as a reminder of the need for stringent safety measures and regular inspections of aging structures to prevent such devastating incidents in the future.
