Gov. Lezama Visits Holbox Fire Damage, Praises Heroes

Holbox, Quintana Roo — Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa conducted an inspection tour this morning on the island of Holbox, visiting the area impacted by a fire that broke out last Thursday. Accompanied by Nivardo Mena Villanueva, Municipal President of Lázaro Cárdenas, the governor briefly surveyed the restaurant “Mr. Happy” and adjacent properties that suffered severe damage, including a daycare center, a private residence, the Zomai Hotel, and an animal shelter called “Refugio de Animales.”

Emergency Response and Community Efforts

In a video shared on social media this afternoon, Governor Lezama highlighted the swift response from citizens and emergency personnel during the fire. She specifically acknowledged two local residents, one named Brayan, who “risked their lives to save people who realized there was no way out.”

The governor reported that personnel from the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) cut off power supply shortly after the fire began, a measure that inadvertently contributed to greater challenges during the emergency. According to her, CFE restored electricity four hours later, once the flames were fully extinguished.

Lezama also commended the ongoing efforts of Civil Protection, the Mexican Navy, and the Mexican Army under the DN-III Plan. “We thank the Navy team, the Army, and the Civil Protection firefighters who have not stopped working. They will now begin cleanup operations,” she added.

Investigation and Future Preparedness

The governor emphasized the need to analyze the incident thoroughly. “The goal is to determine what happened, where the fire started, and take actions to prevent future occurrences—or at least be better prepared if they do,” she stated.

Nivardo Mena, in his own social media posts, expressed gratitude to the governor and state authorities for their support following the disaster. “I appreciate the presence of state officials, who have been very attentive to the concerns of Lázaro Cárdenas residents in the wake of this incident,” he said.

Cause and Extent of Damage

According to Víctor Cortés, Deputy Director of Fiscalization, the fire originated from an uncontrolled gas leak in the kitchen of the restaurant before spreading to neighboring structures. Local emergency authorities confirmed no injuries or fatalities, though significant material damage—still unquantified—was reported.

The incident has drawn attention to safety protocols in the area, with officials pledging to review and strengthen preventive measures.

Visual Documentation

Images from the scene show extensive damage to the affected properties, including charred structures and debris. Authorities continue to assess the full impact as recovery efforts proceed.