Wind gust topples stage during campaign rally for Mexican presidential candidate, injuries reported

A high gust of wind toppled part of the stage at a campaign rally Wednesday evening in northern Mexico, sending a long shot Mexican presidential candidate running for safety. Injuries to other people were reported.

Candidate Jorge Álvarez Máynez wrote in his social media accounts that he went to a hospital after the accident at a campaign rally in the wealthy suburb of San Pedro Garza Garcia, near the city of Monterrey. He said there were “victims,” but did not say how many or how badly they were hurt.

Álvarez Máynez wrote that he was “well,” but did not specify why he went to the hospital.

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

Samuel Garcia, the governor of the northern border state of Nuevo Leon and a leading member of Álvarez Máynez’s Citizens Movement party, said in a taped statement that “unfortunately, there are (people) injured.”

Miguel Treviño, the mayor of San Pedro Garza Garcia, wrote in his social media accounts that “there are people reported trapped and injured. My prayers are with the victims.”

Garcia said the “strong winds blew down a stage at a campaign closer.” Such events are being held this week and next in anticipation of the June 2 presidential, state and municipal elections.

Video of the accident posted on social media showed Máynez waving his arm as the crowd chanted his name. But then he looked up to see a giant screen and metal structure toppling toward him.

Álvarez Máynez ran very rapidly toward the back of the stage to avoid the falling structure, which appeared to consist of relatively light framework pieces as well as what appeared to be a screen with the party’s logo and theater-style lights.

Álvarez Máynez has been running third in polls in the presidential race, trailing both front-runner Claudia Sheinbaum of the ruling Morena Party, and opposition coalition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez.

The election season has so far been plagued by the killings of about two dozen candidates for local offices. But it has not been marred by campaign accidents.