Mérida, Yucatán — Human error, not a design or construction flaw, caused the horrific accident at Paseo 60, concluded Ricardo Béjar Herrera, the federal delegate for Labor and Social Welfare in Yucatán.
The official cited investigations that included the public prosecutor, the civil protection department and fire fighters.
“It was a careless situation. Unfortunately, one of the workers originated this situation,” said Béjar Herrera, who said that the contractor is training workers under federal guidelines and oversight.
Work on the site has gradually resumed, as allowed by the authorities involved in the investigation.
Four workers died and many were injured Dec. 4 when part of a high rise under construction collapsed on Calle 60. The 12-story combination hotel-retail complex is emerging at the southern end of the hotel zone, directly behind the Hyatt Regency.
Paseo 60 will have asymmetrical twin towers, each with a hotel, shops and restaurants.
The complex is being developed by businessman José Chapur Zahoul.
Relative of four of the deceased have received compensation for the tragedy, he said. While declaring that the payout was more than the legal minimum, Béjar Herrera declined to disclose the amount of the settlement.
The fifth family has pursued litigation rather than accept an out-of-court settlement.
Yucatán recorded 13 construction-site deaths in 2017, three more than in 2016. Non-fatal accidents decreased, but were numerous: 4,955 in 2017 and 5,500 in 2016.
Sources: Punto Medio, Desde el Balcón
