At least nine dead and dozens injured after gust of wind collapses a stage at Mexican presidential candidate’s rally

San Pedro Garza Garcia, Mexico – A strong gust of wind toppled the stage of a campaign rally in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon on Wednesday night, killing at least nine people – including a child – and injuring 63, the state governor said.

The collapse occurred during an event attended by presidential candidate Jorge Álvarez Máynez, who fled.

Videos of the collapse on social media showed people screaming, running away and climbing out from under metal posts.

The victims “will not be alone in this tragedy,” Máynez told reporters on Wednesday evening, adding that he had canceled upcoming campaign events.

Afterwards, soldiers, police and other officials roamed the grounds of the park where the event had taken place, while many sat nearby, stunned and shaken by the tragedy.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said he “sends a hug to the family, friends of the victims and political supporters.” Condolences poured in from across Mexico, including from other presidential candidates.

In a video message, Nuevo Leon Governor Samuel Garcia, a leading member of Máynez’s Citizens’ Movement party, urged residents to seek shelter in their homes for the next two hours due to strong thunderstorms in the area.

Máynez wrote on his social media accounts that he went to a hospital after the accident in the affluent suburb of San Pedro Garza Garcia, near the city of Monterrey. He said he was in good condition.

“The only important thing at this point is caring for the accident victims,” he wrote.

He returned to the rally site after being released from hospital and stopped his campaign activities, Reuters reported. Máynez said he hoped the authorities would investigate the incident transparently.

Videos of the accident showed Máynez waving his arm as the crowd chanted his name. But then he looked up and saw a huge screen and a metal structure rushing towards him. He quickly ran to the back of the stage to avoid the falling structure, which appeared to be made of relatively light frame parts as well as a screen with the party’s logo and theater lights.

Agence Grance Presse reports that Jose Juan, who attended the rally, told broadcaster Televisa that the structure “hit me on the head and I fainted. The rest was pure hysteria, pure panic.”

Máynez is in third place in presidential polls, far behind leading candidate Claudia Sheinbaum of the ruling Morena party and opposition coalition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez. Both expressed their condolences, and Sheinbaum canceled a campaign rally in Monterrey the next day “out of solidarity” with the victims and their families.

“My condolences and prayers go out to the families of the dead and I wish a speedy recovery to all those injured,” Gálvez wrote in a social media post.

The accident occurred at the height of the campaign season, which saw many events this week and next in the run-up to the presidential, state and local elections on June 2.

The campaign was plagued by the murders of about two dozen candidates for local office. But it wasn’t marred by campaign mishaps.