SAN PEDRO GARZA GARCIA, Mexico – A stage collapsed in northeastern Mexico during a heavy thunderstorm on Wednesday, killing at least nine people and injuring dozens of others, according to local government officials.
The stage collapsed on Wednesday evening during a political rally of the Civic Movement party in San Pedro Garza García, in the Mexican state of Nuevo León.
A video recorded during the event and subsequent stage collapse shows rain pouring down on rallygoers and loud music playing as the stage collapses. After the collapse, the stage coverings blew with gusts of wind as the chaotic scene unfolded.
Nova Leon Governor Samuel García said nine people were killed by the stage collapse, and 70 people were hospitalized with injuries. García said the dead included eight adults and one minor. Eleven of the injured had been discharged by Thursday morning, according to the governor.
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At the time of the tragedy, Mexico’s National Meteorological Service said severe thunderstorms with high winds, hail and tornado potential were moving through the area.
Presidential candidate Jorge Alvarez Maynez of the Citizens Movement party said he was at the rally and that strong winds contributed to the collapse.
On Wednesday, the Met Service forecast up to 5 cm of heavy rain and wind speeds of up to 70 km/h for Nuevo León, with the possibility of tornadoes.
Weather stations north of San Pedro recorded wind gusts of up to 70 km per hour during the heavy thunderstorms on Wednesday night.
García said the Operational Group for State Security and Civil Protection is investigating the podium collapse.
Information in this story was provided using Google Translate.
Source of original article: Nine dead and dozens injured in Mexico after stage collapse during heavy thunderstorms
