Tragedy Strikes Mexico Election Rally: Stage Collapse Claims At Least 9 Lives

 At least nine people were killed after a strong gust of wind caused a stage to collapse at an election rally in northern Mexico late Wednesday night.

 The incident occurred on the outskirts of Monterrey in the state of Nuevo Leon, during the campaign rally of presidential candidate Jorge Álvarez Máynez.

Nuevo Leon Governor Samuel Garcia confirmed on X that eight adults and one minor had been killed.

In an earlier X post, Garcia said 50 people had sustained “medium to serious” injuries and were receiving treatment at nearby hospitals.

Máynez said he was taken to a local hospital after the stage collapse, but is “fine” and has returned to the incident site.

The long-shot candidate representing the progressive Citizens’ Movement Party also announced he has paused all campaign activities and plans to remain in Nuevo Leon to “monitor the situation and the victims.”

Garcia urged people in the area to avoid going outdoors “because there are storms and atypical winds.”

In an statement on X, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said: “I extend my condolences to the families, friends of the victims, and supporters of [Máynez’s Citizens’ Movement Party]

The incident comes less than two weeks before Mexico’s presidential election and as various campaigns are kicking into high gear. The Citizens’ Movement Party said it had suspended all activities planned for Friday but it is unclear how long Máynez’ campaign will pause for. According to the Associated Press, Máynez is polling in third place behind Claudia Sheinbaum from Obrador’s Morena Party and main opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez. Sheinbaum canceled a rally set for Friday evening in Monterrey “in solidarity” with the family and friends of the victims. Gálvez also issued a statement offering her “condolences and prayers” to the family of the deceased.

In a forecast from earlier in the evening, the Mexican meteorological authority warned of high winds with gusts of 31-43 miles per hour (50 to 70 km per hour) in Nuevo Leon along with the possibility of whirlwinds or tornadoes.