Authorities Have confirmed that at least ten people were killed and 60 others injured when the roof of a church collapsed during a baptism in northeastern Mexico.

The accident rocked the seaside town of Ciudad Madero in Tamaulipas state, with a Red Cross rescuer telling local media that the ceiling of the Santa Cruz parish collapsed in, killing 80 people.

PHOTO | COURTESY church roof collapse leaves 10 dead

"Sadly, ten people have been confirmed dead." "There are five women, two men, and three children among them," Tamaulipas Governor Americo Villarreal told reporters at the catastrophe site.

He added that rescue personnel were working to extract a woman's body from the wreckage, but the death toll was not expected to climb because all of the missing had been found.

According to the governor, at least 60 persons were treated for injuries, with 23 still hospitalized.

"Two have serious injuries. Their lives may be in danger," he stated.

According to church officials, the ceiling collapsed while a baptism occurred.


PHOTO | COURTESY church roof collapse leaves 10 dead

"We are experiencing a very difficult moment... the roof of a church has collapsed during the celebration of the Eucharist," said Jose Armando Alvarez, bishop of the local diocese, in a video broadcast on social media.

Earlier, ambulances, patrol cars, police and military officials, and many people looking for family members who were in the church had raced to the scene.

Local television showed footage of dozens of people using poles to hold up a section of the fallen structure while others searched the ruins for survivors.

In a scene reminiscent of earthquake recovery efforts, rescuers were seen raising their fists in the air as a plea for silence to hear any calls for aid from anyone trapped beneath the wreckage.