At least 9 dead and 63 injured at campaign rally in Mexico after the wind blew down a stage
At least nine people were killed and dozens more injured at a campaign rally in northern Mexico on Wednesday night after a strong gust of wind blew down the stage.
The rally was taking place in favor of presidential candidate Jorge Álvarez Máynez in the Mexican state of Nuevo León, according to The Associated Press. Máynez went to the hospital after the incident, but later announced that he was in good condition.
He also said he suspended upcoming campaign events, adding that the victims “will not be alone in this tragedy.”
“The only important thing at this moment is to care for the victims of the accident,” he said.
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Nuevo León Governor Samuel García, a prominent member of Máynez’s Citizen Movement party, said at least nine people, including a child, were killed and 63 were injured.
He also posted a video message asking residents in the area to shelter in place at home for the next two hours due to the weather.
Videos from the demonstration showed Máynez waving his arm and the crowd chanting his name when he noticed a giant screen and a metal structure falling in his direction, the AP reported. He was able to run to the back of the stage to escape the collapsing structure.
According to the AP, other campaign attendees, many of whom were screaming, could be seen fleeing as some crawled out from under collapsed metal poles.
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Máynez, who is polling third in the country’s presidential race, has been trailing Claudia Sheinbaum and Xóchitl Gálvez, who sent their condolences shortly after the tragic event occurred.
Sheinbaum, who heads the group, said he canceled a Thursday campaign event in the nearby city of Monterrey “in solidarity” with the victims and their families.
Gálvez wrote on his social networks: “My deepest condolences and prayers to the families of the deceased, and my wishes for a speedy recovery to all the injured.”
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador also shared his condolences and said he “sends a hug to family, friends of the victims and political supporters.”
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Mexico is at the height of its campaign season, with presidential, state and municipal elections taking place on June 2.
In addition to Wednesday night’s deadly weather event, the campaign season has also been plagued by the murders of about two dozen candidates for local office.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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