At least 12 palapa roofs caught fire and were destroyed at a construction site in Jaguar Park in Tulum on Thursday afternoon. No injuries or casualties were reported, and authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.
Around 3 p.m. local time, the Quintana Roo state Civil Protection authorities received the report of the fire, which occurred at the southern access point of Jaguar Park, a natural protected area.
#LoÚltimo | La tarde de este jueves se registró un fuerte incendio en el Parque Nacional del Jaguar de Tulum, Quintana Roo; las llamas consumieron varias palapas y por el momento no se tiene reporte de lesionados. pic.twitter.com/wvks9sUVlD
— Reporte Índigo (@Reporte_Indigo) October 19, 2023
“So far no injuries have been reported,” authorities said, adding that the fire had been controlled and put out by firefighters and Civil Protection workers.
In a separate statement, the Tulum City Council confirmed that there were no injuries or damage to the flora or fauna of the park. It also said that authorities are investigating the incident to determine causes and establish responsibilities.
“We’re investigating the causes, and we restate our commitment to your safety,” the local council added.
According to the Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development (Sedatu), the southern access in Jaguar Park is currently under construction and accounts for only 0.05% of the entire project.
Despite the fire, the Sedetu said that the Jaguar Park “will continue to be delivered in a timely manner.” It is scheduled to open by the first quarter of 2024.
The Sedetu also said that authorities are investigating the cause of the incident and experts are reviewing the southern access to determine any further damage that needs to be fixed by the company responsible for the construction work.
It added that no damage was reported to the archaeological site located 3.5 kilometers away from the park.
Jaguar Park is a cultural and tourist project by the federal government that aims to preserve and protect the jaguars that inhabit the south of the country. It seeks to stop excessive urban growth, particularly in the city of Tulum and other surrounding areas, while preserving the environment.
It sits in the northeastern part of Tulum and spans a 2,249-hectare nature reserve that includes various protected natural areas including beaches, forests, Tulum National Park and the Tulum Archaeological Zone.
With reports from Mi México Late, Infobae, La Jornada Maya and Animal Político
