Isla Mujeres, Q.R. — A palapa roof over an Isla Mujeres beach club restaurant that collapsed Thursday has left one dead and six injured. On Thursday, a group of 20 from a catamaran tour arrived at the beach club around 1:00 p.m. when suddenly, a section of the palapa roof gave way.
Below, several from the group were hit leaving people trapped under the debris. A majority of the group were Americans from Texas and New Jersey. Personnel from Civil Protection, along with island firefighters and police, arrived and immediately closed the establishment.
There is speculation that the roof may have collapsed due to the strong winds that have hit the region over the past week, however, authorities are still investigating the cause of the collapse that claimed the life of one woman.
Six others were rushed to hospital in ambulances from the beach club, which is located along the Garrafón highway on the island of Isla Mujeres.
Isla Mujeres City Council, through Civil Protection, have closed the restaurant used exclusively for catamaran tourists. In a statement, Civil Protection director Merced Ortiz Maya said an investigation with the FGE is underway.
Isla Mujeres City Council, along with Ortiz Maya, confirmed that the establishment was closed and that the beach club administration is taking responsibility for the medical care and expenses of the injured and of the deceased.
According to preliminary information, five of the injured were admitted to the Isla Mujeres community hospital, while one was transferred to a private hospital in Cancun. The names of the deceased and injured have not been released.