23-5-2024 (MONTERREY) A devastating incident unfolded on Wednesday at a campaign event for Mexican presidential candidate Jorge Álvarez Máynez, when a stage structure collapsed, leaving nine people dead and at least 50 others injured, according to local officials.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador stated that a gust of wind caused the accident in the city of San Pedro Garza García, located in the northern state of Nuevo León.
Máynez, who briefly visited the hospital after the stage he was addressing supporters from partially collapsed, confirmed that he was unharmed. However, the director of Mexico’s social security institute reported that dozens of people were being treated at local clinics.
“I am fine and in communication with state authorities to follow up on what happened. The only important thing right now is to care for the victims of the accident,” Máynez said, adding that he had suspended his election campaign activities.
???? New video of the stage collapse in Mexico. 6 people are already confirmed dead, 50+ injured pic.twitter.com/sG3FGuDVrj
— Quick News Alerts (@QuickNewsAlerts) May 23, 2024
Harrowing video footage of the accident, circulated on social media, showed Máynez waving his arms as the crowd chanted his name, before looking up to see a giant screen and metal structure toppling towards him. The presidential candidate swiftly ran for safety as part of the stage collapsed.
Miguel Treviño, the mayor of San Pedro Garza García, expressed his condolences, saying, “There are people reported trapped and injured. My prayers are with the victims.”
Máynez, a 38-year-old former state legislator from the centrist Citizen Movement party, is currently running a distant third, less than two weeks before voters head to the polls on June 2.
The two leading candidates in the race are Claudia Sheinbaum, the former head of government for Mexico City, and Xóchitl Gálvez, an ex-mayor for the city’s Miguel Hidalgo borough. On Wednesday evening, Sheinbaum expressed her concern, stating, “I hope everything is well with the candidates and attendees” at the rally.
