Calls for Justice Grow After Two Mexican Photographers Are Killed at AXE Festival

The families of Citlali Berenice Giles Rivera, 28, and Miguel Ángel Rojas Hernández, 26, the Mexican photographers killed at the AXE Festival in Mexico City, are demanding justice while the investigation continues and memorial services are held to honor them.

British singer Charli XCX, who performed at the festival after the incident, expressed her condolences on social media: "My heart goes out to the family and friends of Miguel and Berenice XXX."

Other artists, such as Mexican artist Nsqk, also deeply lamented the loss and highlighted the need to review safety protocols at large-scale events like Ceremonia.

The tragedy occurred on Saturday, April 5, during the AXE Ceremonia 2025 Festival, held in Mexico City 's Bicentennial Park, when a decorative structure collapsed due to a strong gust of wind, causing the death of the two young photographers, who were covering the event for the independent media outlet Mr. Indie.

The Mexican capital's Secretariat for Comprehensive Risk Management and Civil Protection (SGIRPC) issued a statement saying the deaths "were the result of poor oversight of preventive measures by the organizers and operational areas of the Miguel Hidalgo municipality," referring to the city where the festival took place.

Mauricio Tabe, the mayor of the municipality, "categorically rejected the accusation of the Civil Protection Secretariat of the City Government, which points to the Miguel Hidalgo mayor's office as the alleged responsible party because both authorities were present at the same time during the verification on Friday (April 4)," the mayor explained.

The incident occurred around 5 p.m., while Meme del Real, a former member of Café Tacvba, was performing, when a crane serving as a sign collapsed to the ground due to the wind, falling on top of the photographers.

Despite the accident, the festival continued with its programming without adequately informing attendees about what had happened. It wasn't until after 10 p.m. that authorities officially confirmed the victims' deaths. Suspension seals were subsequently placed on the park, and the second day of the event, which had scheduled performances by artists such as Tyler, The Creator and Massive Attack, was canceled.

A family in mourning

Relatives of the victims have demanded justice and have pointed out the lack of clarity in the investigation. Miguel Ángel's cousin stated that his aunt learned of what happened several hours later, and Berenice's family reported difficulties in the release of the young woman's body.

Berenice's father spoke before the cameras, devastated, and asked for justice.

Mexico City authorities have launched an investigation to determine responsibility. The Secretariat of Comprehensive Risk Management and Civil Protection attributed the accident to poor oversight of preventive measures by the organizers and operational departments of the Miguel Hidalgo municipality. It has been reported that the structure involved was installed without proper planning and without authorization.

The artistic community and the general public have expressed outrage and organized memorial services. The park where the festival took place became the epicenter of the mourning. The shock is not only at the tragedy itself but also at the lack of transparency and mishandling of information by the festival organizers. Ongoing investigations are expected to determine who is responsible, and measures will be implemented to ensure the safety of future events.