Protesters Clash With Police in Puerto Morelos Over Persistent Smoke

Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo — A protest by residents demanding action over persistent smoke that has affected parts of Puerto Morelos turned tense Wednesday afternoon as scuffles broke out between demonstrators and police near Federal Highway 307.

The residents had called for a gathering at 5 p.m. outside the Súper Aki supermarket at kilometer marker 328, seeking information and a response from authorities about the lingering smoke.

During the demonstration, police intervened and there were moments of tension, with pushing and shoving reported between officers and some participants. Videos shared on social media show officers grabbing and pulling protesters away amid the commotion. Some people were reportedly detained, though officials have not confirmed any arrests.

The protest came after several days of citizen reports about constant smoke in residential areas of Puerto Morelos. Residents have reported symptoms such as coughing, dizziness, nausea and headaches that they attribute to exposure to the smoke, and have also expressed concern about potential harm to wildlife in nearby areas.

Around 7:30 p.m., civil protection personnel arrived to speak with the demonstrators, who continued to press their complaints. During the dialogue, officials agreed to hold a meeting shortly before 9 p.m. to discuss a possible solution to the residents’ demands. Protesters warned that if they did not receive a response, they could fully block Federal Highway 307 as a next step.

On Aug. 24, residents, mainly from the Selva Escondida 1 development, went to the municipal palace to ask about the source of the smoke and what actions were being taken to address it. At the time, they also raised questions about land clearing and burns that, they said, were taking place near urban developments.

Municipal authorities later reported that patrols by civil protection, firefighters and security personnel, along with drone overflights, had not detected active fires within the municipality. According to the latest municipal report before the protest, the smoke reaching Puerto Morelos comes mainly from a fire near the Colonia Chiapaneca neighborhood in Benito Juárez, about 20 kilometers away.

The municipal government also said it is coordinating with the National Forestry Commission (Conafor) and civil protection authorities to monitor the fire and follow up on smoke reports.