Gust of wind as trigger

Stage collapses: Dead at election campaign event

Security forces stand around the collapsed stage on the outskirts of Monterey (Mexico)(Bild: AP/The Associated Press)

Tragic accident in Mexico: the stage collapsed at an election rally for presidential candidate Jorge Máynez. At least nine people died.

The accident occurred on Wednesday evening (local time) on a baseball field in the municipality of San Pedro Garza García in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo León.

Videos on X show the moment of the collapse

The local newspaper "Reforma" reported that at least 50 people were injured.

Security forces stand around the collapsed stage on the outskirts of Monterey (Mexico)(Bild: AP/The Associated Press)

Gust of wind was the cause
Presidential candidate Jorge Álvarez Maynez from the small center-left Movimiento Ciudadano party was standing on the stage with a mayoral candidate and other people when the accident occurred. He remained unharmed. Alvarez said he was "fine". He was taken to a local hospital. Members of his team were injured and he was on his way back to the scene of the accident.

Child among the dead
"I regret the accident in San Pedro Garza García", wrote President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on X. According to media reports, a child is among the dead.

Alvarez said he was "fine". He was taken to a local hospital. Members of his team were injured and he was on his way back to the scene of the accident.

Videos have been circulating on social media showing the structure collapsing onto the audience and panic breaking out. In a video posted on social media on Wednesday evening, the governor of Nuevo León, Samuel Garcia, appealed to residents to stay indoors in view of the strong thunderstorms in the region.

Presidential, parliamentary and regional elections will be held in Mexico on June 2.