At Least 9 Dead And More Than 50 Injured As Strong Winds Plummet Stage At A Campaign Rally In Mexico

Extremely strong winds caused a stage to collapse during a rally in San Pedro Garza Garcia, near Monterrey, in support of San Pedro mayoral candidate Lorenia Canavati and presidential longshot Jorge Álvarez Minez.

Videos posted on social media show both candidates running away from the collapsing stage. Meines said on social media that he and his team members were treated at a hospital and were “okay.” Popular Mexican band Grupo Bronco also attended the rally.

Governor Samuel García Sepulveda said in a post on X that some of the injured were in stable condition, while others were undergoing surgery.

“What we experienced happened in a matter of seconds. There was a strong wind, a sudden gust of wind, and unfortunately the stage collapsed and a fatal accident occurred,” Alvarez Mines said. Reuters“The first thing I saw was the drums of the musicians in the group that were about to be blown off. When the other members noticed, they all ran in different directions. Some of them were on the side (of the stage). and I jumped back.”

Footage taken immediately after the crash showed numerous emergency vehicles at the scene with their lights flashing in the darkness, transporting the injured away. The area was tightly sealed off and cordoned off by heavily armed guards.

“I send hugs to the families, friends and political supporters of the victims,” ​​President Andres Manuel López Obrador said.

Additionally, Alvarez Mines later said he would suspend all campaign activities after the collapse, but would remain in the state to monitor the situation and casualties.

“We must come together, nothing can repair an accident or damage like this. [people] They are not the only ones affected by this tragedy and will experience the impact this tragedy has had on their lives,” said Alvarez Mines.

Video of the tragedy showed Alvarez-Mines waving his arms as the crowd chanted his name, then looking up to see a giant screen and metal structure falling towards him. He rushed to the back of the stage to avoid the falling structure.

Meanwhile, Alvarez Minez is in third place in presidential opinion polls, behind both the ruling Morena party’s front-runner Claudia Scheinbaum and opposition coalition candidate Xochitl Galvez.

“My condolences and prayers go out to the families of those who died, and I wish those injured a speedy recovery,” Galvez wrote in a social media post.

The accident happened as campaign season gets into full swing, with many events taking place this week and next week in the June 2 election.^and Presidential, state and city council elections are scheduled to be held.