Short circuit blamed for blaze that destroyed dozens of businesses in Puerto Escondido

Over 70 shops successful Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, were destroyed by a occurrence that broke retired successful the aboriginal hours of Friday, with nary casualties oregon deaths reported. 

According to preliminary reports from authorities, the occurrence started astir 1:15 a.m. successful the edifice country located connected Avenida del Morro, on the formation portion of Punta Zicatela, a coastal destination fashionable among surfers and tourists looking for a laid-back atmosphere.   

Head of Oaxaca’s Heroic Fire Department Jorge Arturo Rivas Fernández del Río said that his presumption received the occurrence study astatine 1:30 a.m., aft which exigency services arrived astatine the country immediately. Firefighters worked to extinguish the occurrence until 7:30 a.m. 

Because the affected country was mostly made up of palapas — shelters with thatched roofs made from dried thenar leaves and wood — Rivas said the occurrence dispersed rapidly. 

“It was a large-scale occurrence owed to the precocious fig of flammable materials recovered successful the area. We’re talking astir palapas, adust palms and wood,” Rivas explained to section media, adding that nary casualties were reported acknowledgment to the punctual actions of visitors successful the area.  

Videos of the fire that circulated connected societal media amusement the country wholly engulfed successful flames, arsenic firefighters, civilian extortion unit and volunteers effort to extinguish the blaze.  

Román Valencia, the municipal president of Santa María Colotepec, the municipality successful which Punta Zicatela is located, said that the occurrence resulted successful full losses for galore businesses successful the area. 

While determination is nary authoritative connection arsenic to what caused the occurrence and investigations are inactive ongoing, Rivas said the lawsuit was apt caused by a abbreviated circuit.  

Following the fire, the Santa María Colotepec City Council called connected residents to articulation the cleanup efforts. City officials, members of the Mexican Army, firefighters, constabulary officers, members of assorted organizations and volunteers each joined unneurotic to assistance with the cleanup.

In a connection posted connected its authoritative Facebook page, the Santa María Colotepec City Council announced that, beyond the affected area, restaurants, hotels and tourer areas successful Punta Zicatela proceed to run normally, highlighting that “now much than ever,” Punta Zicatela welcomes tourists and visitors. 

“In airy of caller reports, we privation to clarify that Punta Zicatela is not closed and continues to run normally,” the connection reads. “Restaurants, hotels, shops and tourer areas are welcoming visitors with the lukewarm hospitality that characterizes our region.” 

With reports from El Sol de México and Quadratín Oaxaca