A campaign event for Mexican presidential hopeful Jorge Álvarez Máynez concluded in disaster due to the collapse of a stage, triggered by sudden and powerful winds. The calamity claimed the lives of nine individuals and left at least 121 injured.
The disaster took place in San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León, as the stage was hit by robust winds, estimated to be around 25 to 30 miles per hour. Nuevo León Governor Samuel García Sepúlveda confirmed a minor, reportedly 11 years of age, was among the fatalities. Social media footage showcased the horrifying moment when the stage, equipped with a large video screen, toppled onto the audience, causing people to flee for safety.
Jorge Álvarez Máynez, the presidential candidate for the center-left Citizens’ Movement party, was present at the event but avoided injury. Speaking to the press, he recalled the catastrophic incident, saying, “A gale came, a sudden wind, and unfortunately, it collapsed the stage, resulting in a fatal accident.”
According to Governor García, 27 individuals are still hospitalized, many suffering from skull fractures, with some in a critical state and undergoing surgeries.
In the wake of the disaster, Álvarez Máynez halted all campaign activities and pledged to remain in the state to assist the victims and supervise 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 race for the presidency in Mexico has been intense, with Álvarez Máynez lagging behind leading contenders Claudia Sheinbaum, ex-mayor of Mexico City, and Xóchitl Gálvez, a former senator. Despite currently being third in the polls, 38-year-old Álvarez Máynez has been targeting younger voters and pushing for political reforms.
This unfortunate incident is a stark addition to the wave of violence that has overshadowed the election season. As per Data Cívica, a minimum of 28 candidates have been assaulted, resulting in 16 fatalities this year. This rising violence is set to exceed previous election cycles, sparking worries about the safety of political gatherings nationwide.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and exonerated Álvarez Máynez’s party from any responsibility for the incident. Sheinbaum and Gálvez also expressed their condolences and suspended their campaign events in solidarity with the victims and their families.
As the June 2 election date nears, this tragic incident underscores the risks and challenges confronting candidates and their supporters.
