Playa del Carmen, Q.R. — A company is being held responsible for the damage caused by an illegally felled tree. On Saturday, a section of central Playa del Carmen was left without power when the tree fell on lines.
A crew from a construction site cut the roots of the massive multi-meter tall Poplar tree along 4th Street. In doing so, the entire tree fell over, taking out overhead power lines and cutting off traffic.
Authorities were notified of the power outage as well as the obstruction of the large tree across a city street. City officials were at the site of the illegal cutting Saturday morning in response to those reports.
PDC inspectors from the Ministry of Environment and Urban Development confirmed the company did not have a permit to remove the tree. The construction was being carried out on a private property on 4th Street and 15th Avenue.
Orlando González García, the Director of Regulations and Environmental Impact Assessment, explained that upon verifying the situation, they proceeded to close the site and issue a fine.
In the process, personnel from the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) were called in to restore service.
Due to the size of the established, healthy tree, the city brought in an arborist. Rafael García González, who heads the Mexican Arboriculture Association of Quintana Roo, assessed if the tree could be saved.
Following his evaluation, the city was notified that the tree could be saved and needed to be relocated. Officials are still working out a new home for the old tree.
Since the tree was cut without permits, the company is being held responsible for its relocation and planting as well as paying the city fine.
González García did not provide a possible total cost to the company. He did not say if they will also be held responsible for the damage done to the overhead power lines.
