Stage collapse at campaign event in Mexico: Nine dead – vopbuzz
MEXICO: A stage collapsed at a campaign rally in Mexico on Wednesday, killing nine people and injuring dozens as high winds ripped apart the massive, concert-style structure and scattered politicians and attendees.
At least 63 people were injured at the rally Citizens’ Action Party in the northern state of Mexico New LeonThe state’s governor, Samuel Garcia, told reporters.
The victims were eight adults and one child, Garcia said, adding that three people were taken to hospital and three underwent surgery. The director of Mexico’s social security institute reported that most of the injured were treated at local clinics.
Jorge Alvarez Maynez, presidential candidate of the centrist Citizens’ Movement party, said high winds caused the stage to collapse at the event in the city of San Pedro Garza Garcia, a wealthy residential area near the industrial center of Monterrey.
Video of the accident showed the structure suddenly falling towards the crowd, politicians rushing onto the stage and panicked attendees running for cover.
“I’ve never experienced anything this sudden,” Alvarez Maynez told reporters, noting how quickly the wind picked up before the stage collapsed.
Alvarez Maynez, who returned to the scene of the accident after being treated at a local hospital, said he was suspending his campaign activities and demanding transparency in the process, hoping authorities would investigate what happened.
Alvarez Maynez’s campaign coordinator, Laura Ballesteros, was hospitalized with a broken foot, according to the party, and San Pedro Garza Garcia mayoral candidate Lorenia Canavati wrote on social media that she was coordinating with authorities to support those affected and their families.
Interior Minister Luisa Alcalde said in a statement on social media that Mexican national guards and army were at the scene to provide support.
Governor Garcia warned citizens to stay at home due to the severe storm in the region. Weather forecasters predicted more rain, strong winds and lightning in the district in the coming hours.
Alvarez Maynez is in third place in the presidential elections to be held in Mexico on June 2. She falls far behind the ruling party’s candidate, Claudia Sheinbaum, and second-place Xochitl Galvez, who represents a broad opposition coalition.
In posts on social media, Galvez and Sheinbaum expressed their condolences to the families of the victims; Sheinbaum canceled a rally planned for Thursday evening in Monterrey.
At least 63 people were injured at the rally Citizens’ Action Party in the northern state of Mexico New LeonThe state’s governor, Samuel Garcia, told reporters.
The victims were eight adults and one child, Garcia said, adding that three people were taken to hospital and three underwent surgery. The director of Mexico’s social security institute reported that most of the injured were treated at local clinics.
Jorge Alvarez Maynez, presidential candidate of the centrist Citizens’ Movement party, said high winds caused the stage to collapse at the event in the city of San Pedro Garza Garcia, a wealthy residential area near the industrial center of Monterrey.
Video of the accident showed the structure suddenly falling towards the crowd, politicians rushing onto the stage and panicked attendees running for cover.
“I’ve never experienced anything this sudden,” Alvarez Maynez told reporters, noting how quickly the wind picked up before the stage collapsed.
Alvarez Maynez, who returned to the scene of the accident after being treated at a local hospital, said he was suspending his campaign activities and demanding transparency in the process, hoping authorities would investigate what happened.
Alvarez Maynez’s campaign coordinator, Laura Ballesteros, was hospitalized with a broken foot, according to the party, and San Pedro Garza Garcia mayoral candidate Lorenia Canavati wrote on social media that she was coordinating with authorities to support those affected and their families.
Interior Minister Luisa Alcalde said in a statement on social media that Mexican national guards and army were at the scene to provide support.
Governor Garcia warned citizens to stay at home due to the severe storm in the region. Weather forecasters predicted more rain, strong winds and lightning in the district in the coming hours.
Alvarez Maynez is in third place in the presidential elections to be held in Mexico on June 2. She falls far behind the ruling party’s candidate, Claudia Sheinbaum, and second-place Xochitl Galvez, who represents a broad opposition coalition.
In posts on social media, Galvez and Sheinbaum expressed their condolences to the families of the victims; Sheinbaum canceled a rally planned for Thursday evening in Monterrey.
