Power Outages in Chiquilá Spark Anger, Threat of Roadblocks

Chiquilá, Quintana Roo — A wave of overnight power outages has left residents and business owners in the port town of Chiquilá frustrated and threatening to block the main road to the popular tourist destination of Holbox.

The blackouts began around 10 p.m. and continued through the early morning hours, plunging homes into darkness and heat. Without electricity, fans and air conditioners stopped working, making the intense tropical heat unbearable, especially for children and the elderly.

Local businesses were hit hard. Merchants had to run expensive generators to keep refrigerated goods — meat, dairy, seafood — from spoiling. “It’s not just about lights in the houses; it’s about families’ livelihoods,” said José Luis Marcial Toto, a former town councilor who has become a spokesperson for the community. “When refrigerators stop, it means direct economic losses that no one compensates.”

The outages also cut off the water supply, as the town’s pumping system depends on electricity. Many residents woke up to dry taps, compounding the crisis.

Marcial Toto recalled that about two years ago, similar frustration led residents to block the road to the port, stranding tourists and locals alike. Chiquilá is the main ferry point to Holbox, a world-renowned island destination. A new blockade, he warned, would not only hurt the local economy but also damage Mexico’s international image.

Residents say they have repeatedly reported the outages to the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) but received no timely response. No repair crews were seen during the worst of the blackouts.

“We need a permanent solution,” Marcial Toto said. “We can’t let the port be left in the dark and without water every time the temperature rises. People are tired, and we don’t want to resort to extreme measures like before, but necessity forces us.”

As of the latest reports, power had not been fully restored in all areas, and tensions remained high.