At least ten people are killed and sixty injured after the roof of a church collapses in northern Mexico

The death toll from the collapse of a church in Tamaulipas state, northern Mexico, rose to 10 this Monday, while the number of injured rose to 60as reported by the state government.

On Sunday, the roof of a church in Tamaulipas state collapsed during a ceremony, killing 10 and injuring 60, of whom 23 remain in hospital, two with serious injuries, according to local authorities.

At this time, the causes of the accident, which caused the structure of the building to collapse during the community mass for a baptism, are unknown, although they have tentatively attributed it to a structural failure.

“Unfortunately, a number of 10 deaths and 60 injuries are reported, of which 23 are still in hospital, two of them with serious injuries,” Tamaulipas’ security spokesman said in a short statement on social networks.

The roof of the Catholic temple collapsed this Sunday during a ceremony in Ciudad Madero, where three people were initially reported dead and several injured, in addition to dozens trapped inside.

At this time, the causes of the accident in which the structure of the building collapsed during the communion mass for a baptism are unknown.

The accident occurred around 3:30 PM local time (9:30 PM GMT) and families made up of people of all ages were at the scene.

The event was so sudden that there was no time to evacuate the place.

The Tamaulipas government, which had reported nine deaths and 40 injuries in a latest update, warned that rescue efforts would continue.

“Personnel from the Ministry of Navy Urban Search and Rescue Team are arriving on scene to support the rescue efforts,” the safety spokesperson concluded in a short statement.

Priest Ángel Vargas, who was leading Mass at the time of the collapse, has told local media that there were between 80 and 100 people in the area, so he fears the number of deaths will exceed the current official figure. (JO)