At least five people were killed and dozens others hurt when part of a stage collapsed during a campaign rally in Mexico attended by a long-shot presidential candidate who escaped injury.
Terrifying video shows a strong gust of wind forcing the top of the stage to crumple while at least seven people stood on stage for the Citizens’ Movement party event in the city of San Pedro Garza Garcia in the state of Nuevo Leon.
The party’s presidential pick Jorge Álvarez Máynez was seen smiling and waving his hands as the crowd chanted his name before looking up to see the beams shake loose.
He and several others sprinted for safety toward the back of the stage, while some were spotted cowering in place.
At least four people died, local newspaper Reforma reported.
Álvarez Máynez said on social media that he was “fine” after being taken to a local hospital, but that members of his team were injured in the accident.
He also noted that there were “victims,” but did not say how many were injured, adding that a “gust of wind” was to blame for the tragedy.
Álvarez Máynez was one of the main headliners for the campaign event along with Mayor of San Pedro Lorenia Canavati.
Canavati shared an image of the giant stage in the hours before the rally, which showed that the roof of the structure was held by eight beams.
“Waiting for you starting at 6pm here at the El Bishop Baseball Field to celebrate together that soon San Pedro will be better,” she wrote in the photo caption.
Samuel Garcia, the governor of the northern border state of Nuevo Leon and a leading member of Álvarez Máynez’s Citizens Movement party, said in a taped statement that “unfortunately, there are (people) injured.”
Garcia said the “strong winds blew down a stage at a campaign closer.” Such events are being held this week and next in anticipation of the June 2 presidential, state and municipal elections.
Álvarez Máynez has been running third in polls in the presidential race, trailing both front-runner Claudia Sheinbaum of the ruling Morena Party, and opposition coalition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez.
With Post wires
