1 of 2 | The roof of the Iglesia Santa Cruz Church in the city of Madero, Tamaulipas, collapsed Sunday afternoon, causing a tragic incident where at least nine lives were lost. This devastating event was documented in a photo shared by the Secretary of Public Security Tamaulipas/Facebook.
Oct. 2 (UPI) — A fatal incident unfolded at the Iglesia Santa Cruz Church in the city of Madero, Tamaulipas, as its roof suddenly crumbled, resulting in nine casualties and injuring 40 individuals. This chilling event occurred on a Sunday afternoon, as confirmed by the state government in a statement.
Initial reports stated that seven people lost their lives and 10 were injured. However, the casualty count was later updated by authorities in a statement issued just before midnight. The rescue efforts are ongoing, and the number of injured individuals is expected to rise.
A heartbreaking list of the victims has been released by the city of Madero, revealing that the age range of those affected by the incident spans from 4 months to 76 years old. We currently do not have information on the conditions of the survivors.
In a Facebook update, the Tamaulipas security spokesperson mentioned that search-and-rescue teams, including canine units from the Red Cross, have been diligently searching the debris of the church, hoping to find any survivors who might be trapped underneath.
“I deeply regret what happened in the church of Santa Cruz in Cd. Madero,” stated Tamaulipas Governor Americo Villarreal, expressing his condolences and concerns on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Late Sunday, the governor’s office shared photos of Gov. Villarreal at the scene of the incident, overseeing the progress of the ongoing rescue operations.
According to a statement from Bishop Jose Armando Alvarez Cano of the local diocese, the roof collapsed during a baptism ceremony. City officials estimate that approximately 100 people were present at the time, with around 30 individuals becoming trapped under the debris, prompting the prompt deployment of emergency responders.
“With hope, we share that thanks to divine providence and the efforts of the rescue teams, people have been found alive beneath the rubble!” stated the local diocese in a Facebook post.
