Cancun, Quintana Roo — Homeless individuals set fire to the abandoned former General Hospital in Cancun early Sunday morning, marking the fourth such incident at the site this year, according to authorities.
Residents of the Supermanzana 65 neighborhood reported the fire at around 6:50 a.m., prompting a response from firefighters, civil protection officers, and municipal police. The blaze originated in a room near the old emergency area of the hospital, located near the intersection known as “El Crucero.”
Witnesses reported seeing several men fleeing the building moments before the flames intensified. Firefighters worked for nearly two hours to contain the fire, with water tankers brought in to assist. A thick column of smoke, visible from various parts of the city, was fueled by burning tires and plastic, complicating extinguishing efforts.
Municipal security personnel cordoned off the area to prevent access and reduce risks. After the fire was extinguished, crews conducted cooling operations to prevent reignition from air currents.
Local residents attribute the recurring fires to homeless individuals, known in the area as the “death squad,” who allegedly start fires to extract wire from tires or to cook, leaving behind debris that ignites new blazes.
