Tultepec, in the State of Mexico, is the country’s main fireworks production center. Every year, during the Feria Nacional de Pirotecnia, the town hosts events where safety rules are largely ignored.
One of the most dangerous and visually extreme events is the "Toritos": massive structures with metal and wooden frames, covered in handcrafted decorations, loaded with firecrackers and fireworks. Some reach 8 meters in height, 4 meters in length, and weigh over 100 kg. They are pushed into the crowd over uneven terrain, exploding in every direction and turning the square into a chaos of sparks, booms, and smoke. The unpredictability is complete: it’s not uncommon to see someone trapped in the flames of these bulls, while all around turns into a lawless battlefield. There are no barriers or protective measures—this is a ritual of pure adrenaline, spectacular and extremely dangerous, testing every year the thin line between celebration and recklessness.
In the last nine years, more than 85 people have died in Tultepec due to explosions in fireworks workshops, often family-run and lacking safety standards. Despite this, the festival continues annually with the full support of the local community, which sees pyrotechnics not just as a trade but as a legacy to be defended, even at the cost of lives.
In 2025, I had the chance to document the event firsthand. The sense of danger was palpable everywhere: among screams, detonations, and smoke, Tultepec felt like a city at war with itself.
