At least nine people lost their lives and approximately 50 were injured this Wednesday when a stage collapsed during a campaign event in Monterrey, Mexico, for opposition presidential candidate Jorge Álvarez Máynez of the Movimiento Ciudadano (MC) party. Álvarez Máynez escaped unharmed.
Stunning footage captures the moment when, at the end of the event, Álvarez Máynez and other politicians were bidding farewell to the crowd amidst applause. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind caused the stage to shake, bringing down the main screen and the lighting towers.
Local Mexican media specify that the stage was set up for the campaign closing event of Lorena Canavati, Movimiento Ciudadano's candidate for the mayoralty of San Pedro, Nuevo León. The event took place at the El Obispo baseball field in the western part of the municipality. According to social media records broadcasting the political event, the accident occurred around 6:00 PM local time when strong winds destabilized the stage. The footage shows Álvarez Máynez and Canavati running as the towers and main screen of the stage collapsed.
Emergency response teams and Civil Protection agents from both the state and the municipality of San Pedro arrived at the scene to assist the injured. "The members of my team who were injured are already receiving hospital care. I am heading back to the scene to be with the victims," Álvarez Máynez stated on Twitter.
Earlier, the governor of Nuevo León, Samuel García, also from MC, expressed his sorrow over the accident in a social media message and discussed the weather conditions expected in Monterrey in the coming hours. "Good evening, this is a very important message. Please take shelter; heavy rains are expected in the next few hours. An event occurred 15 minutes ago, unfortunately resulting in several injuries during a campaign closing in San Pedro Garza García," the governor said in a message on the same social network.
FAQs About the Stage Collapse in Monterrey
Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers regarding the tragic stage collapse during the political rally in Monterrey.
What caused the stage to collapse?
The stage collapsed due to a strong gust of wind that destabilized the structure.
Who were the political figures involved in the incident?
The political figures involved were Jorge Álvarez Máynez, the opposition presidential candidate, and Lorena Canavati, the mayoral candidate for San Pedro, Nuevo León.
How many people were injured or killed?
At least nine people were killed, and around 50 were injured in the incident.
What actions are being taken following the accident?
Emergency response teams and Civil Protection agents are assisting the injured, and Jorge Álvarez Máynez has stated that he is returning to the scene to support the victims.