According to images posted on social networks, the pillars supporting the stage collapsed in a gust of wind and a giant screen fell on the stage where the presidential candidate, Jorge Álvarez Máynez, was and other members of the centrist Movimiento Ciudadano party.
“I regret to inform you that the number of people killed in the accident is eight adults and one minor”declared the governor of the state of Nuevo León (northeast), Samuel García, on the social network X.
A little earlier the governor had also mentioned, in front of the press at the scene of the accident, “fifty” injured, some of whom “seriously”.
The tragedy occurred in the town of San Pedro Garza, which is part of the metropolitan area of the industrial center of Monterrey, capital of Nuevo León.
The marquee that housed the presidential candidate’s podium collapsed as the region suffered thunderstorms, strong winds and heavy rains, the governor said.
“There was a misfortune. Strong winds collapsed a stage at a campaign closing event here in San Pedro”explained Mr. Garcia in a video posted on his social networks.
Other images published on X show people being pulled out of a pile of iron structures.
Álvarez Máynez, 38, third in the polls for the June 2 elections, and other members of his party managed to run to safety.
“I am fine and am in communication with the authorities to follow the evolution of what happened. The most important thing at the moment is to take care of the victims of the accident”wrote Mr. Maynez on X.
Members of his team who were injured are being treated in hospital, Maynez said. “I am returning to the scene to support the victims”he said.
Mr. Maynez’s party announced in a statement that it was suspending all campaign events “in solidarity with the victims”.
“Hysteria” and “panic”
“All the people who were under the scene were evacuated and the injured were taken to hospital”for his part indicated Javier González Alcántara, deputy of Movimiento Ciudadano, on the Televisa channel.
“Suddenly”the structure “collapsed, hit me in the head and I passed out, the rest was just pure hysteria, pure panic”added on Televisa one of the participants in the meeting, José Juan, recounting how the marquee had collapsed on the candidates and the public.
It was the closing of the campaign of the Movimiento Ciudadano candidate for mayor of San Pedro, Lorenia Canavati, who was accompanied by Álvarez Máynez. Senate and congressional candidates from the same party were also present.
“I hope that everything goes well for the candidates who participate in the Movimiento Ciudadano event in Nuevo León”wrote on X Claudia Sheinbaum, candidate of the ruling left party and big favorite for the presidency.
“From the bottom of my heart, I hope that no one was seriously hurt by what happened at the Movimiento Ciudadano event in Nuevo León”declared for his part Xóchitl Gálvez, candidate of the center-right opposition, on the same platform.
Growing notoriety
Álvarez Máynez gained notoriety thanks to his presence on social networks and his participation in the obligatory presidential debates, during which he tried to present an independent image of himself, avoiding personal attacks against the competing candidates.
Close to the governor of Nuevo León, who also belongs to Movimiento Ciudadano, he was a federal deputy in the Mexican Congress before entering the race for president.
In recent days, opposition parties have asked him to step down in favor of Mr. Gálvez, which he has refused to do.
Mexico is preparing to experience the most important elections in its history on June 2, during which the president, members of Congress, 9 of the 32 governors and thousands of local officials will be elected.
In total, just over 20,000 positions are to be filled in a campaign marked by the violence of organized crime, with a total of 30 candidates killed since the start of the electoral campaign on September 23, according to the NGO Data Cívica.
