Cozumel, Q.R. — An island business is busy with material clean up today after their facade broke loose Wednesday night. Island officials say ongoing rain likely caused the material to weaken and fall to the ground.
The sidewalk outside a Cozumel pizzeria was littered with debris after a section of their roof collapsed. The incident happened Wednesday night along 23rd Avenue and 55th South leaving many to believe it was an explosion.
Initial reports to island authorities reported an explosion had come from the inside of the restaurant collapsing its roof, however, Cozumel Civil Protection have ruled that out.
Alfredo Arellano Villaseñor, the Director of Cozumel Civil Protection said they arrived to find that the roof had not collapsed, but the facade. He reported that an inspection of the restaurant’s gas and electrical installations were found to be in good condition.
Arellano Villaseñor reported that “due to the humidity that there has been or due to lack of maintenance, gravity caused the front to collapse, but there was no explosion,” he clarified.
The area was closed to traffic Wednesday night while officials carried out an inspection and verified material damage.