At least nine people have been killed, including a child, and about 50 have been injured after part of a stage collapsed at an election rally in Mexico’s northern Nuevo León state, the local governor has said.
The incident occurred as centre-left presidential candidate Jorge Alvarez Maynez was delivering a speech in the city of San Pedro Garza Garcia, near Monterrey.
Mr Maynez was uninjured in the collapse, and was seen speaking to supporters following the incident. Several members of his team had been hurt, he said.
The collapse was caused by a sudden gust of wind, Mr Maynez said on X. Footage has emerged apparently showing the moment the lighting structure collapsed as a number of people were on the stage.
Video posted on social media showed Mr Maynez waving to his supporters and then running to the back of the stage for safety as he realised part of the structure was toppling over.
People can also be heard screaming and running from the stage.
“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,” Mr Maynez told reporters at the scene, according to the AP news agency.
The victims were eight adults and one child, State Governor Samuel Garcia said.
Three of those injured required surgery, he added, following a visit to a local hospital.
Posting on social media, Mr Garcia urged local residents to stay indoors because of thunderstorms and strong winds in the area.
“If you can, avoid going out because there are storms and atypical winds. I will keep you informed,” he wrote on X.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said he was sending “a hug to family members, friends of the victims and political supporters”.
Mr Maynez, 38, is the candidate of the Citizens’ Movement party and is currently trailing in third place in national polls behind Claudia Sheinbaum of the ruling Morena Party and Xóchitl Gálvez, from the opposition coalition.
Mr Maynez announced that he would suspended upcoming campaign events, and Ms Sheinbaum said she had cancelled an appearance in nearby Monterrey on Thursday.
