Church roof collapses while parishioners were receiving communion at child’s baptism, leaving 11 dead

Tragedy Strikes as Church Roof Collapses in Northeast Mexico

A horrifying incident unfolded in Ciudad Madero, northeast Mexico, as a church roof gave way, claiming the lives of eight adults and three children who had gathered for a 1-year-old’s baptism. The calamity occurred during Mass at the Santa Cruz church, leaving around 100 people injured and several trapped.

Monica Segura, an eyewitness to the disaster, described the terrifying moment: “It happened in a matter of seconds. A beam fell, and immediately the roof fell.” Segura, who was among the fortunate survivors, recounted her ordeal, saying she was trapped with her 2-year-old child but managed to escape through a window.

Authorities worked tirelessly to clear the site, confirming the grim toll of casualties by Monday evening, with no further victims found. Nevertheless, 13 people, including Segura’s 10-year-old daughter, remain under medical care.

The victims were predominantly elderly and children, gathered for a series of baptisms. Tragically, the elderly and children bore the brunt of the catastrophe. Father Pablo Galván, a priest present in the church parking lot at the time, lamented, “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.”

The cause of this tragic event is yet unknown, although initial reports suggest it may be attributed to a “structural failure.” Security camera footage captured the sudden roof collapse without any apparent explosion or outward force.

As the search for survivors concluded early Monday, Tamaulipas Governor Américo Villarreal expressed his belief that no more individuals were trapped beneath the rubble. He clarified that the church had no history of structural problems despite its age.

Ciudad Madero, the site of this devastating incident, is located approximately 310 miles south of Brownsville, Texas. Our hearts go out to the victims’ families, and investigations into this tragic event will undoubtedly continue.