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A church roof collapse in Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas state, Mexico, has led to the death of 10 individuals, including three children, during a baptism ceremony.

The incident took place on Sunday, prompting emergency services and military personnel to initiate rescue operations. Governor of Tamaulipas, Americo Villarreal, confirmed the casualties, mentioning, “10 people are confirmed dead. Of these, five are women, two men and three children.” He further elaborated that approximately 60 individuals sustained injuries, with 23 remaining hospitalized and two in critical condition.

The local diocese’s bishop, Jose Armando Alvarez, expressed sorrow and noted that the tragedy happened during “the celebration of the Eucharist.” Images from the scene depicted locals attempting to support parts of the collapsed structure and navigating the debris hoping to find survivors. Rescuers often signaled for silence, trying to detect any cries for help from trapped individuals.

In light of the incident, the Archdiocese of Mexico expressed its condolences on social media, stating, “We join in prayer with our sister diocese Tampico to intercede for our killed and injured brothers.”

With Ciudad Madero being a coastal town housing over 200,000 residents, many locals also utilized social media to solicit essential tools and equipment to aid in the rescue efforts.