Nine people were killed and 63 others were injured after a stage collapsed during a presidential campaign rally in Mexico on Wednesday evening. The incident occurred in San Pedro Garza Garcia and among those killed included a child, authorities said.
Presidential candidate Jorge Álvarez Máynez was not injured. He suspended upcoming campaign events and gave condolences to the victims of the tragedy, per CBS News. "The only important thing at this point is to care for the victims of the accident," said Máynez, who wrote on social media that he was taken to a local hospital and has been listed in good condition.
After being discharged from the hospital, Máynez returned to the rally site and called for a thorough investigation, per Reuters. Authorities said a strong gust of wind knocked over the stage.
Video footage posted to social media of the collapse showed people screaming, fleeing, and emerging from beneath metal polls. One clip showed Máynez waving to the crowd as they chanted his name moments before he looked up to see a huge screen and metal structure falling in his direction. He ran toward the back of the stage to avoid being crushed.
In presidential candidate polls, Máynez has been pulling third, trailing behind the leading candidates, Claudia Sheinbaum of the ruling Morena Party and Xóchitl Gálvez of the opposition coalition. Both individuals extended their sincerest condolences, and the following day, Sheinbaum canceled a campaign event in Monterrey "in solidarity" with the victims and their families.
"My condolences and prayers with the families of the dead, and my wishes for a speedy recovery to all those injured," Gálvez wrote on social media.
Additionally, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador stated that he "extends a warm embrace to the victims' family members, friends, and political supporters." Numerous events were held this week in anticipation of the June 2 presidential, state, and municipal elections.
Presidential candidate Jorge Álvarez Máynez was not injured. He suspended upcoming campaign events and gave condolences to the victims of the tragedy, per CBS News. "The only important thing at this point is to care for the victims of the accident," said Máynez, who wrote on social media that he was taken to a local hospital and has been listed in good condition.
After being discharged from the hospital, Máynez returned to the rally site and called for a thorough investigation, per Reuters. Authorities said a strong gust of wind knocked over the stage.
Video footage posted to social media of the collapse showed people screaming, fleeing, and emerging from beneath metal polls. One clip showed Máynez waving to the crowd as they chanted his name moments before he looked up to see a huge screen and metal structure falling in his direction. He ran toward the back of the stage to avoid being crushed.
In presidential candidate polls, Máynez has been pulling third, trailing behind the leading candidates, Claudia Sheinbaum of the ruling Morena Party and Xóchitl Gálvez of the opposition coalition. Both individuals extended their sincerest condolences, and the following day, Sheinbaum canceled a campaign event in Monterrey "in solidarity" with the victims and their families.
"My condolences and prayers with the families of the dead, and my wishes for a speedy recovery to all those injured," Gálvez wrote on social media.
Additionally, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador stated that he "extends a warm embrace to the victims' family members, friends, and political supporters." Numerous events were held this week in anticipation of the June 2 presidential, state, and municipal elections.
