Nine people have been killed including a child and at least 50 injured after a stage collapsed at a Mexican election rally.
High winds tore apart the huge structure at the rally for the Citizens’ Movement party in the city of San Pedro Garza Garcia, in Nuevo Leon state, sending people scattering across the grounds.
Samuel Garcia, the state’s governor, said on social media that around 50 people were injured including eight adults and one child. Three people underwent surgery while many others were being treated at local clinics.
Jorge Alvarez Maynez, Citizens’ Movement party’s presidential candidate, said a huge gust of wind led the stage to collapse.
Video of the accident showed the structure suddenly falling forward into the crowd, sending politicians on the stage and panicked attendees running for cover.
“I’ve never experienced something so sudden,” Mr Alvarez Maynez told reporters, referring to how quickly the wind picked up before the stage collapsed.
He said he would suspend campaigning while an investigation was carried out, and called for transparency in the process.
His campaign co-ordinator, Laura Ballesteros, was hospitalised with a broken foot, according to the party.
The mayoral candidate for San Pedro Garza Garcia, Lorenia Canavati, said she was co-ordinating with authorities to support those affected, Reuters reported.
Members of Mexico’s national guard and army were dispatched to the scene to provide support.
Mr Garcia warned people to stay inside during strong thunderstorms in the area.
With input from agencies