Mexico City’s AXE Ceremonia Festival Canceled After Two Deaths

Mexico City’s AXE Ceremonia two-day music festival canceled its second day after a crane collapsed, leaving two people dead.

The canceled Sunday lineup included scheduled performances from Tyler, the Creator, the Marias, and Massive Attack. Festival organizers posted a statement for attendees letting them know of the cancelation. “With deep sadness, we confirm the passing of the two people who were injured during today’s incident,” the statement begins.

“We are deeply heartbroken by this loss. We are reaching out to their families to support them during this incredibly difficult time and to provide them with all our care and solidarity. The safety of our community has always been our priority, and we continue, as from the very beginning, to maintain close collaboration and complete transparency with the authorities.”

Authorities who responded to the incident say a crane that was holding a decorative metallic object was blown over by a heavy wind gust. The crane fell on two people “who received pre-hospital care at the scene, and were later urgently transported to the hospital.” Those two people were later identified as photographers Miguel Angel Rojas and Berenice Giles for Spanish-language media outlet Mr. Indie.

AXE Ceremonia continued its first day festivities after the accident, with performances by Charli XCX and Tomorrow X Together. The closure order appears to come from the Mexico City Mayor’s office.

“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,” the mayor’s office said in a statement. “Therefore, this event on April 6 is suspended.”

Festival organizers confirmed authorities suspended the second day of the festival in their statement. Refunds for the second day will automatically be issued to those in attendance. “We inform you that the activities scheduled for today have been suspended, following the guidelines of the relevant authorities. Our sympathy and support go out to their families and loved ones during this difficult time.”