A campaign rally for Mexican presidential candidate Jorge Álvarez Máynez ended in tragedy when a stage collapsed due to sudden, strong winds, resulting in the deaths of nine people and injuring 121 others.
The incident occurred in San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León, as heavy winds, estimated at 25 to 30 miles per hour, struck the stage. Nuevo León Governor Samuel García Sepúlveda confirmed that among the deceased was a minor, reportedly 11 years old. Videos shared on social media captured the moment the stage, which included a large video screen, fell onto the crowd, sending attendees running for safety.
Álvarez Máynez, representing the center-left Citizens’ Movement party, was present but not injured. He described the chaotic moment to the media, saying, “A gale came, a sudden wind, and unfortunately, it collapsed the stage, resulting in a fatal accident.”
Governor García reported that 27 people remained hospitalized, many with skull fractures, and some were in critical condition undergoing surgery.
In response to the tragedy, Álvarez Máynez suspended all campaign activities and vowed to stay in the state to support the victims and monitor the situation. “We have to have solidarity,” he said. “Nothing can repair an accident, a damage of this nature, and [people] will not be alone in this tragedy.”
The presidential race in Mexico has been heated, with Álvarez Máynez trailing behind frontrunners Claudia Sheinbaum, former mayor of Mexico City, and Xóchitl Gálvez, a former senator. Despite being a distant third in the polls, Álvarez Máynez, 38, has focused on appealing to younger voters and advocating for political reform.
This incident adds to the violence and turmoil that has plagued the election season. According to Data Cívica, at least 28 candidates have been attacked, with 16 fatalities so far this year. This level of violence is on track to surpass previous election cycles, raising concerns about the safety and security of political events across the country.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and absolved Álvarez Máynez’s party of any blame for the incident. Both Sheinbaum and Gálvez also offered their condolences and canceled their campaign events in solidarity with the victims and their families.
As the June 2 election date approaches, this tragic event highlights the challenges and dangers faced by candidates and their supporters.