False Gas Leak Alarm Triggers Evacuation at Cancun Mall

Cancún, Quintana Roo — A false alarm of a gas leak prompted the evacuation of Plaza Las Américas shopping mall on Saturday evening, triggering a large emergency response that ultimately found no danger.

Authorities received a 911 call around 6:40 p.m. reporting a strong smell of gas inside the H&M clothing store, located at the intersection of Avenidas Tulum and Bonampak in Supermanzana 7. The C5 security coordination center dispatched municipal police, civil protection officers, firefighters, and Red Cross paramedics to the scene.

Upon arrival, emergency personnel cordoned off the area and began inspecting the premises. Mall security staff evacuated customers and workers in an orderly manner, directing them to the main exits on Bonampak and Tulum avenues. No injuries or intoxications were reported.

After about an hour of inspection, firefighters determined that the alarm was triggered by a short circuit in the fire and smoke detection sensors, not by a gas leak. They confirmed there was no risk to the public, lifted the cordon, and allowed the mall to resume normal operations.

Several stores, including H&M, temporarily suspended activities during the inspection but reopened afterward. Authorities emphasized that the incident was a false alarm and that no gas leak occurred.