Part of the stage fell onto the crowd at the event of presidential candidate Jorge Álvarez Maynez in San Pedro Garza Garcia due to wind, Mexican media reported.
A stage collapsed during a presidential candidate’s campaign rally in northern Mexico, killing at least nine people and injuring about 50 others, authorities said.
The incident happened on Wednesday during a campaign rally of the Civic Movement party in the city of San Pedro Garza Garcia in the state of Nuevo Leon. A video posted on social media shows the structure falling forwards onto the crowd. Nuevo Leon Governor Samuel Garcia said in a post on X:
“I have just visited Clinic 7 and I regret to report that so far the number of people who died in the accident amounts to 8 adults and 1 minor. The injured who are in this clinic are now stable.”
Politicians hope for a speedy recovery of the wounded
Returning to the scene of the incident after hospital, Jorge Álvarez Maynez, presidential candidate for the Civic Movement party, expressed hope that the authorities would investigate what had happened and demanded transparency in the process. Referring to how suddenly the wind picked, Álvarez Maynez said:
“I’ve never experienced something so sudden.”
Interior Minister Luisa Alcalde also said on social media that members of the Mexican National Guard and Army had arrived on the scene to assist.
Miguel Trevino, mayor of San Pedro Garza Garcia, wrote on social media: “I pray for the injured.”
Former Mexico City Gov. Claudia Sheinbaum and Xóchitl Gálvez, ex-mayor of the city’s Miguel Hidalgo neighbourhood, are the two leading candidates. On Wednesday night, they expressed hope that “everything is well with the candidates and attendees” at the rally.
Campaigning is underway this week and next week ahead of the presidential, state and municipal elections on 2 June.
