11 killed after Mexico church roof collapses
Rescue workers search in the debris for dozens of worshipers missing following the disaster.
By CNN’s Lucas Lilieholm and CNNE’s Gonzalo Jimenez
(CNN) — At least 11 people were killed and two people seriously injured on Sunday after the roof of a church in northern Mexico collapsed, officials said.
Preliminary reports indicate that about 100 people were inside the building in Ciudad Madero at the time of the incident, according to a statement from security services in the state of Tamaulipas. Thirty people were believed to be buried in the rubble, Reuters reported.
At least 60 people were injured, with two people sustaining serious injuries, Tamaulipas security spokesperson said.
Units from the National Guard, State Guard, Civil Protection and the Red Cross were assisting in the rescue operation.
Bishop Jose Armando Alvarez, from the diocese of Tampico, said the roof of the church collapsed while worshipers were taking communion, Reuters reported. He urged other members of the community to pray for survivors.
“In this moment the necessary work is being carried out to pull out the people who are still under the rubble,” Bishop Armando said in a recorded message shared on social media, according to Reuters.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
CNN Español’s Juan Paz contributed to this report.
