San Pedro Garza García stage collapse

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Coordinates: 25°40′36″N 100°24′5″W / 25.67667°N 100.40139°W / 25.67667; -100.40139
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San Pedro Garza García stage collapse
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Date22 May 2024 (2024-05-22)
Time20:08 CST (UTC-6)
LocationSan Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León, Mexico
Coordinates25°40′36″N 100°24′5″W / 25.67667°N 100.40139°W / 25.67667; -100.40139
Deaths9
Non-fatal injuries210

On 22 May 2024, at 20:08 CST (UTC−6),[1] a stage collapsed during a campaign rally for mayoral candidate Lorenia Canavati of the Citizens' Movement in San Pedro Garza García in the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo León, killing nine people and injuring at least 210 others.[2]

Background[edit]

Main article: 2024 Mexican general election

Campaign rally[edit]

As part of the end of her campaign, a closing campaign rally was held at 18:00 CST on 22 May 2024 for Lorenia Canavati [es],[3] who was running for mayor of San Pedro Garza García as the candidate of the Citizens' Movement in the 2024 local elections. Other Citizen's Movement candidates were invited to appear with Canavati, including Jorge Álvarez Máynez, the presidential candidate; Martha Patricia Herrera González, a senatorial candidate for Nuevo León; and Javier González, a candidate for federal deputy. The local band Bronco was scheduled to perform after the political portion of the rally.[4]

A temporary stage was erected on the El Obispo baseball field prior to the campaign rally.[5] According to Máynez, civil defense teams had ensured the stage was secure.[6]

During the rally, around 10,000 people were in attendance.[1]

Weather conditions[edit]

On 22 May 2024 at 18:28 CST, the National Meteorological Service (SMN) issued a warning from 18:00 to 21:00 for heavy rainfall, strong winds of up to 70 kph (40 mph) and tornadoes across northern Mexico, including in Nuevo León.[7][8] A similar warning had been issued previously at 13:13 CST from 12:00 to 15:00.[9]

Collapse[edit]

At 20:08 CST, the wind picked up as the candidates on stage were chanting campaign slogans. A gust of wind caused a large screen and stage rigging to topple towards the candidates, prompting them to rush off stage.[10] The collapsing structure struck the attendees in the front rows and caused those behind them to run away.[11] Some members of the crowd were buried under metal poles.[12]

According to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the collapse was caused by strong winds.[13] After seeing videos of the incident, some meteorological experts conjectured that it was caused by a microburst.[14]

Victims[edit]

The next day, the state government confirmed the death toll to be nine people.[15] One of the fatalities was a child.[16] Of the nine deaths, four occured at the site of the incident, three at a clinic, and two at a hospital.[1]

As of 26 May, the state government has confirmed 210 non-fatal injuries.[17] Senator Laura Ballesteros, Máynez's campaign coordinator, required surgery for a broken ankle.[18]

Responses[edit]

Immediate response[edit]

Several members of the municipal police, civil protection, National Guard, and the Mexican Army, who were present to provide security for the candidates and attendees due to the wave of violence affecting the region, began rescue operations, first aid, and the transport of the injured to various hospitals. The Ministry of National Defense activated Plan DN-III-E to address the emergency.[19]

Immediately following the incident, Jorge Máynez reported that he was safe.[20] Canavati expressed sorrow over the accident and assured that she was coordinating with authorities to provide support.[21]

Governor Samuel García released a video on his social media platforms urging citizens to take shelter due to the strong winds.[22] He then visited the scene of the incident, monitored the situation, and stayed with the hospitalized victims. Throughout the night, he provided updates to the media.[23] In a televised announcement the next day, García announced that the state government would take care of any funeral costs, contact the victims' families, and provide scholarships and financial support to children who lost their parents in the incident.[24]

Miguel Treviño de Hoyos [es], the mayor of San Pedro Garza García, established a special hotline for citizens to obtain information about the victims' whereabouts, psychological and legal assistance, and funeral services.[25]

Domestic reactions[edit]

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador offered his condolences to "family members, friends of the victims and political supporters".[26] The next day, López Obrador publicly cleared the Citizens' Movement of responsibility, saying that they held a campaign rally "like everybody else".[8]

Claudia Sheinbaum, the presidential candidate of the Sigamos Haciendo Historia coalition, stated she hoped "everything is well with the candidates and attendees" at the event.[27] Fuerza y Corazón por México candidate Xóchitl Gálvez also expressed her condolences.[26]

Máynez suspended his upcoming campaign events and visited the injured people in hospitals.[26] Mariana Rodríguez, the Citizens' Movement candidate for mayor of neighboring Monterrey, also cancelled events and visited the injured with Máynez.[28] Claudia Sheinbaum cancelled political events for the following day, including one in Monterrey.[26]

International reactions[edit]

Delphine Borione, French ambassador to Mexico; Gautier Mignot, EU ambassador to Mexico; and Roger Rigaud, United States Consul General in Monterrey, posted statements on X expressing their condolences. Condolences were also sent by the embassies of Spain and Norway.[29]

Investigation[edit]

On 23 May 2024, the state attorney general's office launched an investigation to determine the causes of the incident.[30]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c ""Nos tomó por sorpresa": Samuel García confirma 9 muertos y varios hospitalizados tras colapso de templete de MC". Azteca Noticias (in Spanish). 2024-05-23. Archived from the original on 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  2. ^ "Continúan hospitalizados 32 heridos por colapso de escenario". ABC Noticias (in Spanish). 2024-05-26. Archived from the original on 2024-05-26. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  3. ^ "Tendrá Lorenia Canavati cierre de campaña muy "Bronco"". Detona (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  4. ^ "Grupo Bronco daría concierto en evento de Máynez: 'Estamos agüitados', dicen tras desplome de escenario". El Financiero (in Spanish). 2024-05-23. Archived from the original on 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  5. ^ "Álvarez Máynez: ¿Cómo es el campo de béisbol "El Obispo", lugar donde se desplomó el templete MC?". El Universal (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  6. ^ Rios, Michael; Alberti, Mia; Gutierrez, Fidel (23 May 2024). "9 dead, 54 injured as wind causes stage collapse at Mexico election rally". CNN. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  7. ^ Castro, Ana (2024-05-22). "¿Conagua lo vio venir? Advirtió que habría mal clima en cierre de campaña de Máynez". Debate. Archived from the original on 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  8. ^ a b "Warnings were issued about high winds before deadly Mexico stage collapse, but they went unheeded". Associated Press. 2024-05-25. Archived from the original on 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  9. ^ "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  10. ^ Sheridan, Mary (23 May 2024). "Stage at Mexican campaign rally collapses, killing at least four". The Washington Post. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  11. ^ Mega, Emiliano Rodríguez; Yoon, John (2024-05-23). "Stage Collapses at Campaign Rally in Mexico, Killing at Least 9". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  12. ^ Mendoza, Alberto (22 May 2024). "Stage collapse at a campaign rally in northern Mexico kills at least 9 people and injures 121". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  13. ^ Yoon, John; Rodríguez Mega, Emilio (23 May 2024). "Stage Collapses at Campaign Rally in Mexico, Killing at Least 4". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  14. ^ Baena, Mayte (23 May 2024). "¿Qué provocó el colapso de un templete en un evento de Movimiento Ciudadano? Esto dice un experto". Infobae. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  15. ^ Rosete, Erika (22 May 2024). "Al menos 6 muertos y 56 heridos tras el colapso del escenario donde Álvarez Máynez celebraba un mitin en Nuevo León" [At least 6 dead and 56 injured after collapse of scene where Álvarez Máynez was holding a rally in Nuevo León]. El País (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  16. ^ "At least nine dead as stage collapses at Mexico rally". BBC. 23 May 2024. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Continúan llegando heridos a hospitales tras accidente en San Pedro: Samuel García". ABC Noticias (in Spanish). 2024-05-24. Archived from the original on 2024-05-25. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  18. ^ Cortés, Juan Carlos (24 May 2024). "Pese a heridas, Laura Ballesteros se queda como coordinadora de campaña de Álvarez Máynez". Proceso. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  19. ^ "VIDEO: Cae templete en evento de Máynez en Nuevo León; hay 9 muertos y suman 70 lesionados". El Universal (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  20. ^ "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Archived from the original on 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  21. ^ "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Archived from the original on 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  22. ^ Guadarrama, Por Armando (2024-05-23). "Tras desplome de escenario de Álvarez Máynez en Nuevo León, Samuel García pide a la población resguardarse". infobae (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  23. ^ "Van 9 personas fallecidas y al menos 65 personas lesionadas tras colapso de escenario: Samuel García". MVS Noticias (in Spanish). 2024-05-22. Archived from the original on 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  24. ^ "Samuel García creará fondo para víctimas que asistieron a mitin de Máynez: 'No gastarán un peso'". El Financiero (in Spanish). 2024-05-23. Archived from the original on 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  25. ^ "Miguel Treviño brinda apoyo a familias de las víctimas en accidente de San Pedro". ABC Noticias (in Spanish). 2024-05-23. Archived from the original on 2024-05-25. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  26. ^ a b c d Mendoza, Alberto (22 May 2024). "Stage collapse at a campaign rally in northern Mexico kills at least 9 people and injures 121". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  27. ^ "Stage collapses at Mexico campaign rally leaving five dead and others injured". The Guardian. 23 May 2024. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  28. ^ Digital, Tiempo-La Noticia (2024-05-23). ""Noche triste"; reacciona Mariana a trágico templetazo". tiempo.com.mx (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  29. ^ "Países del mundo se solidarizan con México tras siniestro en mitin de MC en San Pedro". www.proceso.com.mx (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  30. ^ "Fiscalía de Nuevo León investiga desplome de templete en evento de Álvarez Máynez". Aristegui Noticias (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
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