Tragedy has struck northeast Mexico, as the roof of the Santa Cruz church in Ciudad Madero collapsed during a service on Sunday, October 1, killing 8 adults and 3 children. Apparently right before the incident took place, 300 people were in attendance of a 1-year-old’s baptism, with 100 injured and several people trapped under the rubble.
The cause of the collapse is still unknown although so far authorities are speculating it may be due to a “structural failure” according to state security spokesman’s office.
Security camera footage from about a block away showed that simply the roof fell without any sign of explosion or walls blowing outward.
At least seven people have died following a roof collapse at a church in Mexico, local authorities confirm. pic.twitter.com/uftYaosKCN
— News Bulletin (@newsbulletin05) October 2, 2023
Monica Segura was standing near the church when it happened and said that it ‘happened in a matter of seconds’ with a beam falling and causing an immediate collapse. She was able to get out through a window carrying her 2-year-old baby but her 1-year-old nephew suffered a broken arm.
Thirteen still remain hospitalized, including Segura’s 10-year old daughter who is currently receiving intensive care.
Father Ángel Vargas said he was walking from pew to pew at the start when a beam gave way and some were able to escape while others were not as lucky. Monica Segura who was standing near the church said that it happened in seconds when a “beam fell and immediately the roof fell.”
By Monday evening authorities had cleared the site, revealing that no other victims were found. Tamaulipas Gov. Américo Villarreal confirmed that trained dogs and thermal imaging cameras had been used to search under rubble but there were no indications of life inside so they called off search for survivors early Monday morning.
He also clarified that there had been no previously reported structural issues with this 50 year old church which had been functioning normally prior to this tragic event occurring without warning.
