A political rally in northern Mexico turned tragic when a sudden gust of wind caused the stage to collapse into the crowd on Wednesday night, resulting in at least nine fatalities, including a child, authorities confirmed.
Governor Samuel Garcia of Nuevo Leon reported that around 50 others sustained injuries, with some in critical condition, as a result of the incident.
Videos captured the chaos as attendees scrambled to avoid the falling structure, with lights and a large screen crashing down near presidential candidate Jorge Alvarez Maynez and members of the Citizens’ Movement party.
Governor Garcia expressed condolences, confirming the deaths of eight adults and one child, with several individuals undergoing surgery.
Maynez, who escaped serious injury, attributed the collapse to a strong gust of wind and emphasized the priority of caring for the victims.
Witnesses recounted scenes of panic and first responders worked to rescue those trapped beneath the debris.
The Mexican meteorological service had issued warnings of severe weather, including heavy rain and high wind speeds.
Maynez, along with his team, remained at the scene to assist until the last injured person was transported to the hospital.
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and other political figures offered sympathies and support to the families affected by the tragedy.
The rally marked the end of the campaign for Citizens’ Movement candidate Lorenia Canavati and drew participants from various levels of the party.
With the presidential election approaching on June 2, Maynez trails behind frontrunners Sheinbaum and Galvez, amid a backdrop of violence that has marred the electoral process.
