Photo via Twitter/Deb_Estrella
Fire has consumed a large part of Iberostar's Tucan and Quetzal Hotels in Playacar, Playa del Carmen, located in Mexico's Riviera Maya resort area on the Yucatan Peninsula, Riviera Maya News reported.
After two palapas began burning around noon Saturday, the Department of Civil Protection of Solidaridad was called, showing up less than 10 minutes later, and hotel employees began evacuating the 1,600 guests, Riviera Maya News said.
Flames swiftly spread to other palapa areas nearby and fire began to shoot 50 feet into the air, the news site said. Fire crews from surrounding areas soon joined those already on scene and authorities told Riviera Maya News that 15 hours were spent putting out the conflagration; to make sure it would not rekindle.
Twenty people were treated for smoke inhalation, but Jesus Puc Pat, Director of Civil Protection, said to Riviera Maya News that the lives of hotel staff and guests were never in danger.
In an update published a few days later, Riviera Maya News revealed that the accommodations would be closed for two months.
The news site said a considerable portion of the hotel was destroyed, including a number of restaurants, the spa, theater, lobby and reception area.
Rafael Castro, secretary general of Environmental and Urban Planning, said in a statement via Riviera Maya News, "Those responsible for the hotel are considering a (recommended) demolition in conjunction with Environmental and Urban Planning."
According to Castro, this would apply to "the entire burned concrete structure." He explained in the statement "The hotel must make an application for the demolition and calculate two months to restore operations."
Meanwhile, the displaced guests have been relocated to Iberostar Playa Parasio, just north of the city, Riviera Maya News said.
The initial report from the news site cited a possible cause of the blaze as an electrical fault, but nothing official has been announced.
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