Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador confirmed on Wednesday night that a stage collapse during a campaign rally in northern Mexico has resulted in the deaths of four people and injuries to 15 others.
The collapse, attributed to a strong gust of wind, occurred during an event attended by presidential candidate Jorge Álvarez Máynez, who was thrown by the force of the wind.
President López Obrador expressed condolences, stating, “I send a hug to family members, friends of the victims, and political supporters.”
Videos circulating on social media captured the chaotic scene, with people screaming, fleeing, and emerging from beneath metal poles.
Álvarez Máynez took to social media to inform supporters that he visited a hospital following the accident in San Pedro Garza García, a wealthy suburb near Monterrey. While he escaped unharmed, he acknowledged the “victims” of the incident and emphasized the importance of their care.
Governor Samuel Garcia of Nuevo Leon, a prominent figure in Álvarez Máynez’s Citizens Movement party, confirmed injuries in a recorded statement, expressing regret over the incident.
Mayor Miguel Treviño of San Pedro Garza García echoed sentiments of concern for those affected, noting reports of individuals trapped and injured.
Garcia attributed the collapse to strong winds during a campaign event, as similar gatherings are underway this week and next in preparation for the upcoming June 2 elections.
Video footage captured the harrowing moment as Álvarez Máynez narrowly avoided the falling structure, composed of lightweight framework and a large screen displaying the party’s logo.
Álvarez Máynez, currently third in presidential polls behind Claudia Sheinbaum and Xóchitl Gálvez, continues his campaign amidst a backdrop of violence targeting local candidates, with this incident marking a tragic turn in the electoral process.
