Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Q.R. — State and municipal emergency services were called to a tanker fire in Felipe Carrillo Puerto Thursday. Emergency personnel were sent in after numerous reports of a loud explosion were made by area residents.
According to State Civil Protection, a fuel tanker parked inside the Sedena military camp near a Tren Maya station caught fire and exploded. The incident happened around noon Thursday.
Due to the size of the fire and potential risk, officials temporarily closed the Merida highway bypass.
Early Thursday afternoon, State Civil Protection said “the Quintana Roo State Civil Protection Coordination reports that a fire is underway at a SEDENA camp in Felipe Carrillo Puerto.
“As a preventative measure, the Mérida exit bypass remains temporarily closed while efforts to extinguish the fire continue. The public is advised to take precautions and use alternate routes. We will continue to report.”
Plumes of jet black smoke could be seen for kilometers from the military camp where the fuel tanker was burning. The highway leading to the camp at section 3 of Santa Amalia was crowded with emergency vehicles responding to the explosion.
The highway was also congested with workers who were evacuated from the camp.
Emergency personnel spent the better part of the afternoon extinguishing the 10,000-liter diesel tanker that caught fire.
In an update Thursday evening, Coordinación Estatal de Protección Civil Quintana Roo said ‘it is reported that the fire that started today inside the SEDENA camp has been completely extinguished thanks to the coordinated efforts of multiple emergency teams.
“Among the participating teams are the State Civil Protection Coordination brigade, the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC), the Felipe Carrillo Puerto Fire and Civil Protection Corps, the José María Morelos Fire Department, National Guard (GN), the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA), the Bacalar Fire Department, the Tulum Fire Department and fire trucks from the Tulum Airport, the Maya Train and Capa.
“The coordination between these entities allowed us to control the fire and ensure the safety of workers in the area. We continue working together for the well-being and safety of everyone.”
Felipe Carrillo Puerto Mayor Mary Hernández Solís also reported Thursday evening. “The fire inside the SEDENA camp has been extinguished and the bypass is now clear. Many thanks to Governor Mara Lezama for her constant monitoring of this situation.”
There were no injuries reported in the explosion. State Civil Protection did not provide a possible cause for the fuel tanker fire since their investigation into the afternoon fire continues.
