Cancún Fuel Crisis: 80% of Gas Stations Closed

Cancún, Q. Roo — Nearly a week after municipal authorities assured the public that fuel service in Cancún was nearly 100% restored, the reality on the streets paints a completely different picture. Residents, transport workers, and private drivers report that more than 80 percent of gas stations continue to be unable to dispense gasoline, citing they are "out of system."

Contradictions Between Citizen Reports and the Municipality's Message

Recent posts on social media show residents from Polígono Sur, Región 100, Avenida Las Torres, and Bonfil reporting that the majority of Pemex stations remain out of operation, generating long lines at the few gas stations that are still functional.

In a Cancún neighborhood group, a post reads: "THERE IS NO SYSTEM AT ANY GAS STATION AROUND POLÍGONO SUR. ONLY THE FULL GAS ON LÓPEZ PORTILLO AND NICHUPTÉ IS DISPENSING."

Other users, including drivers for ride-sharing platforms, are requesting information on locations where fuel is still available, citing a lack of official communication and growing uncertainty.

Official Statements Clash with Ongoing Reality

On October 9, Municipal President Ana Paty Peralta stated that "only five gas stations continued to have issues" and that "all the others were already ready to dispense fuel normally."

However, six days later, the situation not only persists but has worsened, highlighting an operational breakdown and a disconnect between the government's narrative and the reality experienced by citizens.

Potential Causes and Operational Contrasts

Sources within the energy sector attribute the collapse to failures in Pemex's internal systems, possibly linked to recent blackouts and electrical instability in the northern zone of Quintana Roo. While not officially confirmed, it has not been ruled out that the failures are related to problems with the state-owned company's central servers or unscheduled maintenance.

In contrast, private gas stations such as La Gas and Full Gas continue to operate partially, albeit with high demand and prolonged wait times. Several stations are only accepting cash payments and are prioritizing emergency vehicles.

Citizen Discontent and Systemic Vulnerabilities

The lack of transparent information is compounded by public discontent, with citizens questioning the lack of foresight and the delayed response from municipal and state authorities.

In a tourist municipality like Cancún, which is dependent on mobility and transportation, a prolonged failure in the fuel supply reveals the vulnerability of critical systems and the absence of effective contingency protocols.

For now, motorists can only wait for the service to be restored or search for alternative stations on the exits toward the Riviera Maya. Meanwhile, the silence from Pemex and the lack of updates from the government fuel the perception of a crisis that was downplayed from the start.

Some of the Gas Stations in Operation

• Avenida Chichén Itzá by El Timón.
• Gas station near the Gran Plaza.
• Gasoline on Avenida Nichupté and Avenida Contoy.
• Gas station on Avenida Andrés Quintana Roo and Avenida Comalcalco.
• Gas station on Avenida Colosio, in front of Plaza Cumbres.
• Gas station on Avenida López Portillo at the entrance to Tierra Maya.
• Gas station at the end of Avenida Huayacán, heading toward Mérida.
• Gas station on Avenida López Portillo and Avenida Nichupté.