Cancun, Q.R. — The mayor of Cancun has confirmed the death of at least one person from a construction site accident Friday. The man, reported to be an administrator, was killed by falling debris when an entrance arch collapsed.
City emergency teams found the collapsed entrance arch of the Aqua by Cumbres residential complex on Huayacán Avenue. Authorities were made aware of the incident shortly after 2:00 p.m. Friday.
One person was killed and six others reported injured when the concrete structure came crashing to the ground. The arch was constructed as the security booth entrance to a new up-and-coming residential area.
The collapse happened at the security booth where the arch had been constructed. There are reports that one of the injured was an on-site security guard from inside the booth.
Local reports say that security guard later died in hospital, however, city officials have not confirmed that information.
According to an official statement made by the City of Cancun “following a report received through the 911 emergency number at 2:03 p.m. this Friday, municipal authorities addressed the collapse of an access booth-type structure in a residential area located on Huayacan Avenue.
“One person has been reported dead, so emergency teams carried out debris removal and rescue work in the area.
“At the scene, elements of Civil Protection Cancun, Cancun Firefighters, Cancun Police, Cancun Transit, ERUM and the Mexican Red Cross worked in a coordinated manner. The information continues to be updated as the rescue and relief efforts progress.”
The accident is reported to have happened when workers were pouring concrete for the structure that would form part of the security access point for the residential complex.
According to initial reports, the structure was poorly made and unable to support the weight of the wet concrete. During the pouring, it suddenly and without warning collapsed trapping several workers.
Witnesses reported that the collapse was fast, not allowing workers a chance to escape.
At the scene, emergency services confirmed that one person, a man, was trapped under a large amount of concrete and construction material and pronounced dead at the scene.
He has been identified as Mauricio Arnulfo Palomino, an administrator of Aqua by Cumbres. The company released a statement Friday afternoon confirming the collapse and identifying the man that was killed.
Six others were injured and transferred to Cancun hospital.
Cancun Civil Protection says they are continuing their investigation into the construction site collapse.
“We continue to work in coordination on the structural collapse,” Protección Civil Cancún said.
Cancun authorities have not provided additional information.
