Tampico, Mexico - In northern Mexico on Sunday, a church's roof collapsed during a Mass, resulting in an unknown number of casualties among approximately 30 parishioners believed to be trapped beneath the debris, as confirmed by authorities.

The Tamaulipas state police reported that around 100 individuals were present inside the church when the collapse occurred, with an estimated 30 individuals still inside the structure.

Authorities did not immediately provide details regarding the extent of casualties. Nevertheless, the Mexican Council of Bishops issued a statement expressing condolences for the tragic loss of life and injuries, without specifying the exact number of fatalities.

Bishop José Armando Alvarez of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tampico disclosed that the roof caved in while parishioners were receiving communion at the Santa Cruz church in Ciudad Madero, a Gulf coast city neighboring the port city of Tampico.

"Thanks to Divine Providence and the dedicated efforts of rescue teams, individuals have been successfully rescued from under the debris!" stated Alvarez's diocese through a social media post. "Let us continue to offer our prayers!"

Furthermore, he urged those with available wood to bring it to the church, presumably to assist in shoring up the roof while rescue teams worked inside.

Tamaulipas state police indicated that units from the National Guard, state police, state civil defense office, and the Red Cross were present at the scene, actively engaged in rescue operations.

Photographs published by local media depicted a structure primarily constructed from concrete and bricks, with sections of the roof collapsed nearly to the ground. The roof itself seemed to be made of poured concrete, and images released by state authorities showed the massive roof resting on top of pews in certain areas of the church, suggesting the possibility of air pockets where survivors might be located.

"At this time, efforts are being made to extricate those still trapped under the rubble," Alvarez conveyed in a recorded message. "Today, we are enduring a very challenging moment."

While building collapses are relatively common in Mexico during earthquakes, no significant seismic activity was reported by the National Seismological Service at the time of the incident, and there was no immediate indication of an explosion.

Ciudad Madero is located approximately 310 miles (500 kilometers) south of Brownsville, Texas. While the state of Tamaulipas is known for drug cartel-related violence, Ciudad Madero is situated in the southern part of the state, adjacent to Veracruz state, and has experienced relatively less violence.