The Chakanbakán lagoon in Quintana Roo all but disappeared after six sinkholes appeared underneath it. Twelve days later, rains have contributed to its recovery.

State Civil Protection chief Norman McLiberty Pacheco said three of the sinkholes have been filling up naturally.

“The lagoon is on its way to full recovery; that is very good news for plant and animal species. Early estimates indicated that the process could last between three and six months, but the lagoon is improving every day,” he told the news agency Grupo SIPSE.

While favorable rains for the lagoon are expected to continue on the Yucatán peninsula — September being the month with the most rainfall in the region, McLiberty explained that the situation that caused the loss of 75% of the lagoon’s water continues to be studied by specialists.

José María Ayala, a member of the security council of the Laguna Om ejido, or communal lands, told SIPSE they have decided to keep the Chakanbakán lagoon off limits to visitors due to security concerns.

He explained that several cracks appeared on roads leading to the lagoon and that the settling of the land is still a risk to be considered.

The downtime at Chakanbakán will give residents a chance to prepare the roads and entrances to the lagoon area for the installation of a Wildlife Management Unit (UMA) dedicated to crocodile breeding.

The lagoon is located in the municipality of Othón P. Blanco, about 90 kilometers to the east of the city of Chetumal.

Source: SIPSE (sp)