A tragic incident struck a campaign rally in San Pedro Garza García, Mexico, on Wednesday, when a stage collapsed under heavy winds, resulting in the deaths of nine people. Among the deceased was a minor, as confirmed by Governor Samuel García Sepúlveda. The governor also reported that at least 54 people were injured, with some undergoing surgery and others in stable condition. Rescue operations are still ongoing to free individuals trapped under the wreckage.
Key Highlights:
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Incident and Immediate Response:
- Videos circulating on social media captured the harrowing moment when a powerful gust of wind caused the stage to collapse. Presidential candidate Jorge Álvarez Máynez, who was present at the rally, managed to escape unharmed. "What we experienced happened in just a few seconds: A gale came, a sudden wind, and unfortunately, it collapsed the stage, resulting in a fatal accident," Álvarez Máynez recounted.
- The scene post-collapse was chaotic, with numerous emergency vehicles on-site, lights flashing in the dark as they transported the injured to safety. The area was cordoned off, guarded by heavily armed security personnel.
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Weather and Safety Checks:
- Nearby weather observations from Monterrey indicated thunderstorms bringing gusty winds up to 25 to 30 miles per hour. Álvarez Máynez mentioned that Civil Defense teams had inspected the stage's structure before the event. However, the severity of the wind gusts was unexpected. "The weather conditions were very atypical: the rain didn’t last for even five minutes ... it wasn’t even a storm, it was truly atypical what happened,” he said.
- Governor García Sepúlveda urged residents to stay indoors, anticipating more strong winds and storms.
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Impact on the Campaign:
- Álvarez Máynez, representing the center-left Citizens’ Movement party, announced the suspension of his campaign activities following the incident. He emphasized his commitment to staying in the state to support the victims and monitor the situation.
- Despite his efforts, Álvarez Máynez's chances of winning the presidency are slim. The election is predominantly a contest between former Mexico City mayor Claudia Sheinbaum and former senator Xochitl Gálvez. With both women leading in the polls, Mexico is likely to elect its first female president in June.
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Political Landscape:
- Mexico is gearing up for its largest election in history on June 2, amidst a backdrop of escalating political violence and assassinations. An estimated 70,000 candidates are competing for over 20,000 positions, including the national presidency and governorships of nine states.
- Data from research group Data Cívica indicated that, as of April 1, at least 28 candidates had been attacked this year, with 16 fatalities. This spike in violence is on track to surpass even the bloodiest election cycles in Mexico's history.
Álvarez Máynez concluded by expressing his solidarity with the victims and their families, stating, “We have to have solidarity, there is nothing that can repair an accident, a damage of this nature, and [people] will not be alone in this tragedy and through the consequences that this tragedy will have in their lives.”
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