On October 1, 2023, a church roof dramatically crumbled during mass in Ciudad Madero, Northern Mexico. Santa Cruz Church, with a roof of thin concrete, was the site of the collapse which led to 11 deaths and injuries to approximately 50 individuals. It’s known that many of the parishioners present were youngsters, with baptisms slated for the day. Three children were among those who succumbed to the disaster.
An initial investigation suggests that the catastrophe was not due to an explosion but seems to be a structural failure. Related footage from a security camera in the vicinity affirms this, showing the roof caving in instead of blasting outward.
The aftermath of the collapse saw tireless efforts from teams comprising the National Guard, state police, local defense forces, and the Red Cross, who worked through the night for search and rescue. At the time of the collapse, parishioners were partaking in communion, according to Bishop José Armando Alvarez from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tampico.
Bishop Alvarez appealed for wood donations from the community, aiming to temporarily brace the collapsed sections of the roof to preserve the safety of the rescue teams. Images in local newspapers exhibit the calamity’s scale, with the concrete rubble precariously low and suggesting potential air pockets that could harbor survivors.
