Cozumel on Alert as Vehicle Fires Reach Nine in January

Alert in Cozumel: Two Cars Set on Fire, Bringing January Total to Nine

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — Two vehicles were set on fire during the early morning hours yesterday in different points of Cozumel, in incidents that keep authorities on alert and deepen citizen concern over the wave of intentional incidents recorded on the island.

The attacks occurred with just minutes of difference and without, so far, the motives or perpetrators being known, which reinforces the perception of insecurity among residents and vehicle owners.

According to official reports, minutes after 4:00 a.m., a call to the emergency number 911 alerted about a vehicle on fire on Calle 3, between Avenidas 85 and 90, in the Repobladores neighborhood.

Municipal Police and Fire Department personnel went to the location and managed to control the fire; however, the compact car suffered considerable damage to its structure.

Almost simultaneously, a second call mobilized security and rescue corporations to the El Encanto neighborhood, specifically to Calle Bugambilias, where another car was being consumed by flames. Although the fire was extinguished, the vehicle suffered severe damage.

In both cases, the owners told authorities they do not know the causes of the attack and assured they have no prior conflicts that could explain what happened.

With these two incidents, the total reaches nine vehicles set on fire so far in January, a figure that causes alarm among the population. Residents of the affected areas expressed their fear at the recurrence of these incidents.

“It is no longer an isolated case, it is something that is becoming frequent and no one tells us what is happening,” said Adrián, a resident of the Repobladores neighborhood.

Business owners and citizens consulted agreed that the burning of vehicles not only represents economic losses, but also a risk to people’s safety and their homes.

“The fear is that a fire could get out of control and reach houses or businesses,” commented Julia, a neighbor from El Encanto.

State authorities indicated that these incidents could be related to various lines of investigation, including possible criminal disputes; however, so far no arrests have been reported for the most recent fires.