At least five people have died and 50 others were injured when a stage collapsed during a campaign rally in northern Mexico, according to the state governor.
It happened yesterday evening in Nuevo Leon, at an event for the Citizens’ Movement Party, Samuel Garcia said.
“There was a tragedy,” Nuevo Leon Governor Samuel Garcia told reporters from the scene, according to local television.
“Preliminarily, we have five people dead and approximately 50 with different types of injuries, some serious.”
Jorge Alvarez Maynez, the presidential candidate for the centrist Citizens’ Movement party, said on social media that a gust of wind caused the stage to collapse at the event in the city of San Pedro Garza Garcia, a wealthy enclave near the industrial hub of Monterrey.
Mr Maynez said he was “OK” after being taken to a local hospital, but that members of his team were hurt and he was suspending his campaign activities.
In a video shared to social media yesterday evening, Governor Garcia warned residents to stay indoors amid strong thunderstorms in the area, citing the weather as contributing to the accident.
Mr Maynez is polling in third place in Mexico’s Presidential election set for 2 June. He is trailing far behind ruling party candidate Claudia Sheinbaum and second-place Xochitl Galvez, who represents a broad opposition coalition.
Ms Galvez offered condolences for the families of the victims in a post on social media, while expressing solidarity with her competitor Mr Maynez.
