Part of the ceiling of the Bom Jesus Church in the village of Rabo de Peixe on São Miguel Island in the Azores collapsed Sunday night.
The issue had been previously identified, as revealed by the parish on its social media channels, resulting in scheduled masses being relocated to the parish hall.
“Considering that, overnight, a section of the church ceiling, which was already on the verge of collapsing, fell, we inform that the church is unfit for holding masses this Sunday,” the church officials announced on social media, disclosing the new location for the religious ceremonies.
The Rabo de Peixe Parish Council also issued a statement regarding the incident, expressing regret and assuring that it has been present at the site “from the first moment,” monitoring the situation.
The local authority also ensured “the cleaning of the area, in order to restore the dignity and respect that the church deserves.”
“We reaffirm our commitment to the community, respecting its religious symbols and acting quickly whenever the situation demands,” they concluded.
Fortunately, the incident, which happened during the night, did not cause any injuries.
