At least nine people, including a child, died after a stage collapsed due to strong wind gusts during a campaign rally in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon, authorities confirmed Wednesday. The incident, which also left at least 50 others injured, occurred at a closing campaign event for the Citizens’ Movement candidate for mayor. “I regret to report that so far the number of people killed in the accident stands at eight adults and one minor,” Nuevo Leon Governor Samuel Garcia announced on social media platform X.
Local media captured the catastrophic moment as the stage buckled under the gusts, sending lights and a screen crashing down among attendees, including presidential candidate Jorge Alvarez Maynez. Fortunately, Maynez escaped serious injury and emphasized his ongoing coordination with authorities to aid the victims. “The priority is to take care of the victims,” he stated after the accident.
Eyewitness Jose Juan described the scene to Televisa as one of utter chaos: “It hit me on the head and I fainted. The rest was pure hysteria, pure panic.” In response to the tragedy and the adverse weather conditions, Governor Garcia urged the public to stay indoors.
The incident has resonated deeply across the political spectrum, with messages of condolence and solidarity coming from other presidential candidates and President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
