Explosion and Fire at OXXO Store in Puerto Morelos Leaves Worker Shaken

Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo — An explosion followed by a fire at the entrance of an OXXO convenience store drew firefighters, public security officers and investigators to the Puerto Morelos-Playa del Carmen federal highway early Tuesday, near kilometer 33.

A worker who was inside the store made it out alive and suffered only a nervous crisis, authorities said.

Emergency dispatchers received the report before dawn after motorists spotted flames at the establishment, located just past the Valentín hotel.

Firefighters found the flames concentrated at the store’s main entrance and worked to put them out and cool the structure.

Worker Sheltered in the Bathroom

The store employee told investigators he was in the office area when he heard an explosion coming from the main door, which he said had been closed since midnight. When he went to look, he saw fire and smoke and took refuge in the bathroom for about 10 minutes while calling relatives and friends for help.

Once the fire was under control, emergency crews found pieces of concrete block inside the store, a detail officials described as unusual in their report. However, high temperatures and heavy smoke at the time prevented a detailed inspection to determine what caused the explosion and the subsequent fire.

Medical personnel evaluated the worker for a nervous crisis, but he did not need to be taken to a hospital.

Investigators have yet to establish what caused the incident, and officials said it has not been determined whether the fire was accidental or the result of a deliberate act.