Cancun Earthquake Exposes Lack of Safety Protocols in Malls and Stores, Residents Say

Cancun, Quintana Roo — Monday’s magnitude 4.2 earthquake, centered in Cuba, has sparked criticism from residents who say many shopping malls and retail stores in Cancun failed to implement basic safety protocols, leaving customers and employees without guidance during the tremor.

While municipal and state authorities activated preventive inspections in public buildings, government offices, hotels, and other structures, residents told local media that private businesses — particularly shopping centers and department stores — did not evacuate staff or customers.

“During the drill, alerts went off on phones and everyone knew what was happening, but yesterday when it was real, nobody said anything,” said Jose Luis Hernandez, a 48-year-old taxi driver who was in a store on Avenida Talleres. “What’s more, in the parking lot there isn’t even a sign marking a meeting point in case of emergency.”

Other residents noted that many businesses lack visible safety signage and clear procedures for earthquakes, creating confusion among workers and shoppers.

“Government offices evacuated, some hotels did too, but in the stores people kept shopping because nobody told them what to do,” said Maria del Carmen Gomez, a 35-year-old administrative employee who participated in a survey conducted after the quake.

Although the tremor caused no major damage, residents said it should serve as a wake-up call to strengthen prevention culture in a region that historically has not faced such phenomena frequently, according to Ricardo Pech May, a 42-year-old merchant.

Early Tuesday, a separate magnitude 3.6 earthquake struck in Yucatan, with an epicenter in Chapab, 11 kilometers north of Ticul, and a depth of just five kilometers, according to the National Seismological Service. It was imperceptible in Quintana Roo.

Some residents questioned why emergency measures tend to focus on tourist zones, public buildings, and government offices, while high-traffic spaces like supermarkets and department stores appear to lack clearly identifiable protocols.

“If experts say these phenomena could be felt more frequently, then all places where people gather should have clear procedures, signage, and trained staff — but I think only Plaza Las Americas did that,” said Ernesto Chan Tuz, a 29-year-old service sector worker.

Social media users reported a crack in the ceiling of Plaza Las Americas, but security personnel and longtime tenants said the fissure had existed for nearly five years and was repaired on Monday.

As authorities continued structural inspections, residents said the episode should open debate on the need to expand and reinforce emergency protocols in private establishments and improve alert and communication mechanisms for the public.

For many, the main lesson from the earthquake is not the absence of damage, but the evidence that Cancun still faces significant challenges in prevention and emergency response — challenges that until a few years ago seemed unlikely in the region.