Luckily, no one was harmed when a blaze ripped through Punta Zicatela. Photo: Román Valencia//Facebook
A fire ripped through the iconic Mexican surf town of Puerto Escondido early Friday morning. The blaze started around 1:30 a.m. March 6 in the Punta Zicatela neighborhood at the southern end of Zicatela beach. Luckily, no one was harmed.
During a Facebook Live of the aftermath, Román Valencia, the mayor of Santa Maria Colotepec, which includes Punta Zicatela, said that the area affected by the fire was a “total loss.” More than 60 buildings were destroyed, including restaurants, bars, hotels, and businesses. Valencia said about 200 local jobs are affected.
The buildings were largely constructed with organic materials such as wood and traditional palm-leaf “palapa” roofs, which allowed the fire to spread quickly.
It’s unknown what caused the fire, but officials believe it was due to a short circuit.
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A crowdfunder created to help those who lost businesses in the fire has received 1.02 million pesos (USD $57,000) of its goal of 1.5 million pesos.
“This fundraising effort aims to support the initial reconstruction of the affected area, prioritizing urgent actions such as cleanup, debris removal, basic materials, support for directly affected individuals and businesses, and community reactivation,” the fundraiser says. “The funds will be managed transparently, and regular updates will be published regarding the amount raised, the allocation of funds, and the prioritized beneficiaries.”
