In a tragic incident, at least 9 people were killed and several others were injured after a stage collapsed due to a wind gust at a campaign event for Mexican presidential candidate Jorge Alvarez Máynez in San Pedro Garza García in northern Mexico on Thursday.
The purported video of the incident posted on social media showed Máynez waving towards the crowd which was chanting his name when suddenly he looked up to see a giant screen and metal structure falling towards him due to wind gust. Seconds later, Máynez ran for safety as part of the stage collapsed.
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"After the accident in San Pedro Garza, where a gust of wind collapsed the stage where we were, I moved to the San José hospital. 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," said Máynez in a post on X, adding that he had suspended poll campaign activities.
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Miguel Treviño, the mayor of San Pedro Garza Garcia, wrote on social media that "there are people reported trapped and injured. My prayers are with the victims".
Campaign events are being held this week and next in anticipation of the June 2 presidential, state and municipal elections.
Máynez has been running third in polls in the presidential race, trailing both front-runner Claudia Sheinbaum of the ruling Morena Party, and opposition coalition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez. The campaign has so far been plagued by the killings of about two dozen candidates for local offices. But it has not been marred by campaign accidents.
