Mexico, San Pedro Garza Garcia The governor of the northern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon reported that a strong gust of wind collapsed the stage at a campaign rally on Wednesday evening, resulting in the injuries of 63 individuals and the deaths of at least nine individuals, including a child.
The event was attended by Jorge Álvarez Máynez, a longshot presidential candidate who fled in an attempt to avoid the collapse.
Social media videos of the catastrophe depicted individuals screaming, fleeing, and emerging from beneath metal polls.
Máynez informed reporters on Wednesday night that the victims “will not be alone in this tragedy” and that he had suspended impending campaign events.
AFollowing the tragedy, soldiers, police officers, and other officials patrolled the park’s grounds while many people in the area felt shocked and haunted.
ccording to Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, he “extends a warm embrace to the victims’ families, friends, and political supporters.” Condolences were received from all over Mexico, including from other presidential candidates.
Gov. Samuel Garcia of Nuevo Leon, a prominent figure in Máynez’s Citizens Movement party, requested that inhabitants remain indoors for the next two hours in a video message.
Máynez reported on his social media platforms that he was transported to a hospital following the accident in the affluent suburb of San Pedro Garza Garcia, which is located near the city of Monterrey. He stated that he was in excellent health.
“At this juncture, the sole priority is to provide assistance to the accident victims,” he stated.
The audience chanted Máynez’s name as he waved his arm in the videos of the accident. Subsequently, he glanced upward to observe a massive metal structure and screen falling toward him. To evade the falling structure, which appeared to be composed of relatively lightweight framework pieces, a screen with the party’s logo, and theater-style lights, he ran swiftly toward the back of the stage.
According to Agence Grance Presse, Jose Juan, who was present at the rally, stated to Televisa that the structure “hit me on the head and I collapsed.” The remainder was a state of sheer panic and hysteria.
Máynez has been polling in third place in the presidential election, a significant distance behind the frontrunner Claudia Sheinbaum of the ruling Morena Party and the opposition coalition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez. Sheinbaum canceled a campaign event in Monterrey the following day “in solidarity” with the victims and their loved ones, and both individuals expressed their condolences.
In a social media post, Gálvez expressed his condolences and prayers for the families of the deceased, as well as his hopes for a swift recovery for all those who were injured.
The tragedy occurred during the peak of the campaign season, with numerous events scheduled for this week and the following week in anticipation of the presidential, state, and municipal elections on June 2.
Approximately twenty-two candidates for local offices have been murdered during the campaign. However, it has not been tarnished by campaign mishaps.