A fire in Tulum forced about 1,000 people to evacuate.Photo: Social Media
A fire that began around 10 p.m. Wednesday at the Jungle Market clothing store damaged several Tulum businesses and forced around 1,000 people to evacuate their quarters.
Firefighters extinguished the flames by 1:30 a.m. but remained at the scene until 3:30. The store was a total loss, but no injuries were reported and the source of the fire was unknown.
On Twitter, several users posted videos of the fire and speculated that flames spread so fast because of the traditional Mayan thatch roofs used in many of the structures. Last November, a fire at the Moon Place hotel in nearby Cancun started when a thatched palapa caught fire and quickly spread.
Social media feeds reflected widespread discontent with authorities in Tulum, who many perceive as not doing enough to protect locals and visitors from fire hazards.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTERDelivered to your inbox every Monday, completely free.
In recent months state authorities in Quintana Roo have also come under intense criticism for allegedly lax regulations with respect to COVID-19, which have allowed large restaurants, bars and nightclubs to continue operating at seemingly normal capacity.
Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht, PhD, is a journalist, photographer, and expedition leader. Born in Mérida, Carlos holds degrees from universities in Mexico, Canada, and Norway. Most recently, he earned a doctorate in Heritage Studies in 2026.
Uber users in Mérida can now request a ride with a female driver, as the company’s Uber Mujeres feature begins rolling out across the city this week. The tool lets riders choose a female driver for an immediate trip, book one in advance through Uber Reserve, or set a standing preference so the app tries…
Health authorities in Mérida have closed the artificial lake at La Isla Shopping Center after a maintenance worker is suspected to have died from a brain-eating amoeba. A 34-year-old maintenance worker at La Isla’s artificial lake has died after being hospitalized with a severe brain infection caused by what is commonly known as a brain-eating…
Yucatán could close out 2026 with more than MX$2 billion (about US$118 million) in tourism revenue during the year’s final four months, state officials say — but the boost is expected to come from conventions and big events rather than from a rebound in everyday visitor traffic. Darío Flota Ocampo, head of the state’s Secretaría…
The success of the World Cup game held in Mexico could quickly lead to another benefit next year. Early reports suggest that the Gold Cup could return here for the first time since 2003. What could it mean for the country’s football fans and the national team’s chances of success? A Look Back at the…
Social media posts claiming that 35 Mercedes-Benz buses are being pulled from Mérida’s Va y Ven system and shipped off to Aguascalientes have set off a bigger conversation about the state of public transit in the city. David Quintal Medina, president of the Circuito Metropolitano road council, said there’s no official word confirming where those…
The Tren Maya derailed again Monday, coming off the tracks about 50 meters (164 feet) after leaving San Francisco station in Campeche on a run bound for Mérida. None of the 123 passengers aboard was injured, according to the railway’s operator. The train’s engineer stopped the unit as soon as the derailment was detected, and…
