A roof collapse at a church in Ciudad Madero, northeast Mexico, has killed at least 11 people, including three children, during a baptism ceremony on Sunday. The incident occurred at the Santa Cruz church when a tie beam gave way, causing the concrete roof to crash down on dozens of worshippers.
Father Ángel Vargas, who was baptizing children at the time, recounted the harrowing event on Radio Formula. He described how the roof did not collapse in some areas, such as around the altar, allowing himself and others to escape. “Some people could get out and others no,” he said, calling it a “terrible experience.”
State officials reported that 13 people remain hospitalized, two in serious condition. An 18-year-old woman later died from her injuries. Authorities called off the search early Monday after using trained dogs and thermal imaging cameras, concluding that no more people are believed to be trapped under the rubble.
The collapse is attributed to structural failure, with no prior signs of defects reported. The church was over 50 years old. No seismic activity or explosion was detected at the time. The roof, made of thin poured concrete, rested on pews in some areas, possibly creating spaces that saved lives.
