At least seven people were killed and 30 others were trapped on Sunday after the roof of a church collapsed during a service in the northeastern Mexican town of Ciudad Madero.

The spokesperson for the Tamaulipas state government confirmed the grim news, stating: "Seven people are confirmed dead, and 10 injured people have been rescued." It was further revealed that more individuals remained trapped under the debris, with an estimated 30 people believed to be still inside.

Approximately 100 people were present inside the church when the roof suddenly gave way. Bishop José Armando Alvarez of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tampico described the horrifying incident, indicating that the roof collapsed while the congregation was in the midst of a religious ceremony.

Efforts to rescue those trapped were immediately launched, with units from the National Guard, the state police, state civil defense office, and the Red Cross swiftly arriving at the scene.

Photos circulated by local media depicted a concrete and brick structure, portions of its roof lying nearly at ground level. The roof, made of poured concrete, was seen resting on top of pews in certain areas of the church, raising hope that there might be air pockets allowing for potential survivors.

“At this time, the necessary work is being performed to extract the people who are still under the rubble. Today we are living through a very difficult moment,” Bishop Alvarez emphasized.

While building collapses in Mexico are often associated with seismic activity, the National Seismological Service did not report any significant earthquakes that could have caused such a catastrophic collapse. Moreover, there were no immediate indications of an explosion.

Ciudad Madero, situated about 310 miles (500 kilometers) south of Brownsville, Texas, is located in Tamaulipas, a region known for drug cartel violence. However, Ciudad Madero, in the southern part of the state near neighboring Veracruz state, has experienced comparatively less violence.

Authorities continue their efforts to rescue those trapped and investigate the cause of this tragic incident. (ILKHA)