11 people are dead after Mexico church roof collapses. No more people believed buried in rubble

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In Ciudad Madero, in the northeastern region of Mexico, a tragic incident unfolded during a solemn occasion. Eleven lives were tragically lost when the roof of the Santa Cruz church suddenly collapsed during the baptism ceremony of a 1-year-old nephew, forever altering what should have been a joyous occasion.

Among those gathered within the church was Monica Segura, who, along with several others, was fortunate to escape with relatively minor injuries as they were positioned near a side of the church that avoided the falling roof. However, her 10-year-old daughter was not as fortunate and became trapped in the rubble, requiring intensive medical care. Thirteen individuals remained hospitalized as of Monday, grappling with the physical and emotional aftermath of this devastating event.

The incident unfolded with alarming speed, as Segura recounted. In a matter of seconds, a supporting beam gave way, causing the entire roof to collapse, plunging the church into chaos and despair. Segura found herself trapped briefly, clutching her 2-year-old baby, until someone came to her aid. Despite their efforts, her other daughter remained trapped under the debris. Meanwhile, her 1-year-old nephew sustained a broken arm, further compounding the tragedy.

As the sun set on Monday, the debris at the site in Ciudad Madero had been cleared, and no more victims were found. However, this catastrophe raised pressing questions about why the concrete and brick structure had failed so abruptly. Security camera footage from a nearby location showed the roof collapsing downward in an unusual manner, without any outward explosions or signs of structural instability, leaving authorities to conclude that it was, in all likelihood, a structural failure.

Father Ángel Vargas, who was conducting the baptism Mass, described the terrifying moments of the roof’s collapse. Some individuals managed to escape, while others were not as fortunate, leading to a tragic loss of lives. The congregation consisted primarily of elderly individuals and children due to multiple baptism ceremonies taking place, which could have resulted in an even greater tragedy, given that there had been approximately 300 people inside the sanctuary for Mass just before the collapse.

Fortunately, authorities called off the search early Monday, indicating that no one was believed to be trapped beneath the rubble. Trained dogs and thermal imaging cameras had been employed in the search efforts, and while the optimism prevailed, the true extent of the situation would become apparent as cranes were deployed to lift the collapsed slab and debris from the church floor.

The heartbreaking toll included the loss of three children’s lives, with several others, including a 4-month-old baby and young children aged 5 and 9, among those injured. Father Pablo Galván, who had finished celebrating the main Mass and was outside the church during the collapse, vividly described the roof’s fall as a sudden and inexplicable implosion, happening in a mere two seconds.

Although the cause was attributed to structural failure, Governor Américo Villarreal stated that no prior issues with the church had been reported. The church itself was over half a century old and had been functioning without any apparent defects.

Remarkably, photographs distributed by state authorities revealed that the relatively thin poured concrete roof slab had settled atop pews in certain sections of the church, possibly creating small pockets of space that might have saved lives.

While building collapses in Mexico are often associated with seismic activity, the National Seismological Service did not report any significant earthquakes at the time of the incident, nor was there immediate evidence of an explosion. Ciudad Madero, situated approximately 310 miles (500 kilometers) south of Brownsville, Texas, is part of Tamaulipas, a region known for drug cartel violence. However, this tragic event occurred in the southern part of the state, nearer to Veracruz, and had been relatively untouched by such violence until this sorrowful day.

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More about Church Roof Collapse

• Church Roof Collapse in Ciudad Madero, Mexico – CNN
• Structural Failure Suspected in Mexico Church Roof Collapse – The Guardian
• Tragic Church Collapse Claims 11 Lives – Associated Press
• Tamaulipas Governor’s Statement – NBC News