Mexico Election Campaign Rally Turns Deadly After Stage Collapses, Killing 9, Including a Child

It was supposed to be a routine campaign rally in Nuevo Leon state for presidential candidate Jorge Alvarez Maynez, but things soon turned deadly after the stage collapsed. While the current third-ranked favorite was ok, the incident resulted in nine people dead and dozens of others injured in yet another deadly incident during the already-deadly Mexico election season.

It happened while Alvarez was delivering a speech in the city of San Pedro Garza Garcia, which is found near the city of Monterrey. He soon addressed his supporters to try and calm things down as people were screaming and running away from the collapsed stage.

Several members of the candidate's team were injured, his campaign confirmed. However, unlike the many deadly incidences that have happened so far this Mexican election cycle, no foul play was suspected. Alvarez noted that the collapse was caused by a powerful gust of wind, according to the BBC.

''First, I saw the musicians' drums from the group that was going to play were going to get blown away," the candidate running to be Mexico's next president said. "When the others noticed, they ran in different directions; some jumped to the sides, and I jumped back."

"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," he added, describing the incident as an "atypical [weather] event."

Soldiers and police soon responded to the accident and helped out in the search and rescue operations, pulling survivors out of the rubble that was once the stage where candidates were delivering speeches.

Nuevo Leon Governor Confirms 9 Dead in Mexico Election Campaign Stage Collapse

Meanwhile, Nuevo Leon Gov. Samuel Garcia, a top ally of Alvarez and a member of his Citizens Movement party, confirmed the casualties of the incident in a video message. He stated that nine people were killed: eight adults and one child.

The Nuevo Leon governor also confirmed the dozens of people injured, with 94 already being treated and released while 27 remained hospitalized. He also confirmed that a lot of the injuries involved skull fractures, per the Associated Press, adding that some of the victims were still undergoing surgery at that time. Others also appeared to be in critical condition.

The governor added that the incident happened in a "matter of seconds" as the stage collapsed quickly after a powerful gust of wind blew by.

Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Reacts to Deadly Stage Collapse

The incident happened to the Citizen's Movement Party, and even though his party is going against them in the Mexico election, set to take place next month, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador sent his condolences to the victims and expressed his support for his Morena Party's rival.

"We know that they are not to blame," AMLO said before calling for investigations into the deadly collapse. "The only important thing at this point is to care for the victims of the accident," he added.

Candidate Jorge Alvarez Maynez is currently in third place behind AMLO ally Claudia Sheinbaum, who is in 1st place in the polls, and opposition candidate Xochitl Galvez, who is in second place. The race has been called a three-horse race between the three candidates despite the massive lead being held by Sheinbaum.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: At least nine dead as stage collapses in Mexico at Jorge Alvarez Maynez rally | BBC News