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AXE Ceremonia Festival Suspended After Tragic Incident
Local authorities have officially suspended the AXE Ceremonia festival, which was being held at an ecological park in Mexico City, following the tragic deaths of two individuals during an incident on April 5. The catastrophe occurred when a crane, responsible for transporting a decorative metal installation, collapsed.
The cancellation was confirmed on April 6 in a message on X from the Miguel Hidalgo mayor’s office, which oversees the area where the event was located.
According to the statement issued, “The teams from the Miguel Hidalgo Government and Legal Affairs, along with the borough’s Civil Protection department and the Administrative Verification Institute of Mexico City, completed the inspection and placed suspension seals at the entrances to AXE Ceremonia in Bicentennial Park.”
Local authorities confirmed the deaths of the two victims, a man and a woman, while the festival organizers acknowledged the incident through their Instagram account. The Mexico City Prosecutor’s Office has since launched an investigation to ascertain accountability for the incident.
The festival’s post expressed condolences: “With deep sadness, we confirm the passing of the two people who were injured during today’s incident. We are heartbroken by this loss and are reaching out to their families to support them during this incredibly difficult time.” The festival also reaffirmed their commitment to safety and collaboration with authorities.
Reports from the Mexican newspaper El Universal identified the victims as 26-year-old Miguel Angel Rojas and 28-year-old Berenice Giles, both photographers. At the time of publication, the event organizers, ECO Live, had yet to respond to inquiries about the situation.
The tragedy unfolded around 5:30 PM local time when high winds caused a metal structure to collapse, striking both individuals. Following the incident, the government reported that both victims received immediate medical care but later succumbed to their injuries within the hospital.
An eyewitness described the chaos following the collapse, noting that attendees rushed to assist those trapped beneath the fallen structure. Emergency services quickly cordoned off the area and provided medical assistance to other injured individuals at the scene.
In an official statement, the authorities clarified that paramedics provided critical care for serious head injuries and fractures. Clara Brugada, the Head of Government in Mexico City, expressed her sorrow over the tragedy and praised the rapid response of emergency personnel, assuring that investigations were being closely monitored by the local government.
Atentos de los lamentables hechos ocurridos esta tarde en el Parque Bicentenario. Mi solidaridad con familiares y amigos de las personas que desafortunadamente perdieron la vida tras el accidente.
Agradezco la rápida y eficiente respuesta del personal de la @PBI_SSC, de la…
— Clara Brugada Molina (@ClaraBrugadaM) April 6, 2025
Mayor Mauricio Tabe of Miguel Hidalgo also shared his condolences, expressing regret for the events that transpired at the festival. He acknowledged that his thoughts were with the victims’ families.
Authorities indicated that the incident might have resulted from the installation of additional cranes by the festival organizers, which were not included in the pre-event safety review submitted to local officials.
Due to the private nature of the event, those responsible for the project and the Civil Protection supervisor, both appointed by the festival’s organizers, will be subjected to an inquiry initiated by the Mexico City Prosecutor’s Office.
Despite the tragic events, the festival reportedly proceeded with its scheduled performances that night, featuring performances from artists including corridos tumbados star Natanael Cano and British singer Charli XCX, among others. With expectations of approximately 55,000 attendees on the first day, the festival’s director had confirmed a packed lineup.
Looking ahead to the festival’s second day, highly anticipated performances were set to include British group Massive Attack and American rapper Tyler, The Creator, among other notable acts.
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