OAN’s James Meyers
8:25 AM – Thursday, May 23, 2024
At least nine people were killed, including one child, and more than 50 people were injured when a stage collapsed at a political campaign rally in Mexico on Wednesday night.
Very strong winds brought the stage down, as a rally was taking place to promote Lorenia Canavati, a mayoral candidate for San Pedro, as well as long-shot presidential candidate Jorge Alvarez Máynez in the city of San Pedro Garza Garcia, near Monterrey.
Video footage uploaded to social media shows both candidates running from the collapsing stage.
Máynez said on social media that he and other members of his team were being treated at a nearby hospital. The rally was also attended by the popular Mexican band Grupo Bronco.
Governor Samuel Garcia Sepulveda said in a post on X that some of the injured are now in stable condition, while others are now undergoing surgery.
”What we experienced happened in just a few seconds: A gale came, a sudden wind, and unfortunately, it collapsed the stage, resulting in a fatal accident,” Álvarez Máynez told Reuters. “I first saw the musicians’ drums, from the group that was going to play, were going to get blown away. When the others noticed, they ran in different directions; some jumped to the sides (of the stage), and I jumped back.”
Footage taken of the aftermath of the accident showed a large number of emergency vehicles at the scene with their lights flashing in the dark as injured people were carried away. The area was cordoned off and contained by heavily armed security personnel.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced that he wishes to “send a hug to family members, friends of the victims and political supporters.”
Additionally, Álvarez Máynez later said that he was suspending all campaign activities after the collapse, and that he would also remain in the state in order to monitor the situation and the victims.
“We have to have solidarity, there is nothing that can repair an accident, a damage of this nature, and [people] will not be alone in this tragedy and through the consequences that this tragedy will have in their lives,” Álvarez Máynez said.
Videos of the tragedy showed Álvarez Máynez waving his arm as the crowd chanted his name. He then looks up to see a giant screen and metal structure toppling towards him. He then ran quickly towards the back of the stage to avoid the falling structure.
“My condolences and prayers with the families of the dead, and my wishes for a speedy recovery to all those injured,” wrote Gálvez in a social media post.
The accident happened as the campaign season has begun ramping up, with many events being held this week and next week as the June 2nd presidential, state, and municipal elections are set to take place.
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