Cancún Residents Reject New Morgue After Talks with Prosecutors End Without a Deal

Cancún, Quintana Roo — A meeting between municipal officials, the State Prosecutor’s Office (FGE) and residents of Supermanzana 510 ended without an agreement over the planned opening of a new forensic medical service (Semefo) facility in the neighborhood.

Residents reiterated their demand that the facility be relocated, while forensic services staff tried to reassure them that the building meets all health and safety protocols and would not affect the community.

Residents blocked the intersection of Avenidas Politécnico and México on Tuesday to oppose the project. The meeting, agreed to during that protest, took place last Friday at the Municipal Palace.

María, who lives a few meters from the newly built facility on Avenida Politécnico, said the discussion produced no consensus. Another participant, Pedro Ruiz, said municipal and FGE representatives did not present permits or official documents from health and urban development authorities proving the land’s zoning or authorizations for handling corpses.

Rebeca Sandoval said prosecutors’ staff argued the Semefo’s operation would not cause disturbances thanks to sanitary protocols, and noted the building has a maximum capacity of 180 bodies.

The current Semefo on Avenida Andrés Quintana Roo has at times held more than 600 bodies. During the meeting, forensic staff told residents that most bodies would be kept for no more than 72 hours before being handed over to families. Authorities acknowledged that at least 10 bodies arrive daily, which would mean more vehicle traffic to the new site.

Residents said they were misled: the building was presented for months as a future vehicle inspection center before they learned it would become a morgue. Neighbors have demanded that state prosecutor Raciel López Salazar attend the next meeting so they can reiterate their request to relocate the facility.