As many as 50 people were killed after a church in Uyo, Nigeria, collapsed on worshipers Saturday, officials said.
Akwa Ibom Gov. Udom Emmanuel was at Reigners Bible Church when it collapsed and narrowly escaped injury, his press secretary, Ekerete Udoh, said in a statement.
Authorities did not provide any reasons for the church’s collapse but said efforts were underway Saturday to rescue victims trapped beneath the rubble.
According to Udoh’s statement, the church “caved around them” at a ceremony to consecrate the church pastor’s becoming a bishop.
Uyo is the capital of Akwa Ibom state, which is in Nigeria’s coastal southern region.