2-10-2023 (MEXICO CITY) A tragic incident occurred on Sunday as the roof of a church in northern Mexico collapsed during a Mass, leading to a rescue operation to locate approximately 30 individuals believed to be trapped beneath the debris, according to local authorities.
The Tamaulipas state police reported that around 100 people were inside the Santa Cruz church in the Gulf coast city of Ciudad Madero at the time of the collapse, with approximately 30 still unaccounted for. Authorities have not yet confirmed any casualties.
Bishop José Armando Alvarez of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tampico revealed that the roof caved in while parishioners were receiving communion. The Tamaulipas state police, along with units from the National Guard, state police, state civil defense office, and the Red Cross, swiftly arrived at the scene to initiate rescue efforts.
Photographs released by local media depicted a structure made of concrete and brick, with sections of the roof collapsed near the ground. The roof appeared to be composed of poured concrete, and images provided by state authorities revealed the immense structure resting on top of pews within the church. This raised hopes that air pockets may have formed, potentially allowing survivors to be found.
Bishop Alvarez expressed the ongoing efforts to extract those still trapped beneath the rubble in a recorded message, stating, “At this time, the necessary work is being performed to extract the people who are still under the rubble. Today, we are living through a very difficult moment.”
Although building collapses are often associated with earthquakes in Mexico, the National Seismological Service did not report any seismic activity that could have caused such significant damage during the time of the incident. Additionally, there has been no immediate indication of an explosion.
Ciudad Madero, situated approximately 310 miles (500 kilometers) south of Brownsville, Texas, is located in the state of Tamaulipas, which is known for drug cartel violence. However, Ciudad Madero, located in the southern part of the state near neighboring Veracruz, has experienced less violence compared to other areas.
