Nine people were killed and dozens injured when a stage collapsed at a Mexican election campaign rally, as high winds tore apart the large, concert-style structure.
Around 50 people were injured at the rally yesterday for the Citizens' Movement party in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon, Samuel Garcia, the state's governor, said on social media.
The victims were eight adults and one child, Mr Garcia said.
Many of the injured were being treated at local clinics, the director of Mexico's social security institute reported.
Jorge Alvarez Maynez, the presidential candidate for the Citizens' Movement party, said a gust of wind caused the stage to collapse at the event in the city of San Pedro Garza Garcia, a wealthy enclave near the industrial hub of Monterrey.
Video of the incident 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.
Mr Alvarez Maynez, who returned to the scene of the accident after being cleared at a local hospital, said he was suspending campaign activities and that he hoped authorities investigate what occurred, requesting transparency in the process.
His campaign coordinator Laura Ballesteros was hospitalised with a broken foot, according to the party, and mayoral candidate for San Pedro Garza Garcia, Lorenia Canavati, wrote on social media that she was coordinating with authorities to support those impacted and their families.
Members of Mexico's national guard and army were on the scene to provide support, Interior Minister Luisa Alcalde said on social media.
Governor Garcia warned residents to stay indoors amid strong thunderstorms in the area.
Mr Alvarez Maynez is polling in third place in Mexico's presidential election set for 2 June. He is trailing far behind ruling party candidate Claudia Sheinbaum and second-place Xochitl Galvez, who represents a broad opposition coalition.
Ms Galvez and Ms Sheinbaum both offered condolences for the families of the victims in posts on social media, with Ms Sheinbaum cancelling a rally planned for this evening in Monterrey.
