A stage in northern Mexico where a presidential candidate was campaigning collapsed after a gust of wind blew through the area on Wednesday night, leaving at least five people dead and at least 50 others injured, a state governor said.
The stage collapsed in a suburb of Monterrey, in the state of Nuevo León, during an event attended by the progressive candidate Jorge Álvarez Máynez and other members of the Citizens’ Movement party. The collapse was caused by strong wind, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico said on social media.
Samuel García, the governor of Nuevo León, announced the deaths and injuries in a news conference. He said that he was waiting for the national authorities to provide more information.
The stage, which had been erected on a baseball field in the city of San Pedro Garza García, was the site of a campaign event for the Citizens’ Movement party’s candidate for the city’s mayoral election, Lorenia Canavati.
Mr. Álvarez Máynez said on social media that he was “fine” after the collapse and that he had been communicating with the state authorities to determine what had happened.
Mr. García said in a video message that people should take cover from the storm.
“We’re witnessing electric storms. Very strong winds and heavy rain is expected for the next two hours,” he said. “There’s already been a tragedy.”
This is a developing story.
Victoria Kim contributed reporting.
