Residents Block Cancún Avenue to Protest Three-Day Power Outage

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Residents of the city’s Region 232 blocked Rancho Viejo Avenue on Friday night, burning tires, trash and mattresses to protest a power outage that has left their homes without electricity for about three days.

The blockade was centered on Calle 70, on the stretch of Rancho Viejo Avenue between Leona Vicario and Niños Héroes, where demonstrators closed the road and placed various objects on the pavement.

The burning debris sent columns of smoke into the air and prompted a response from emergency personnel, who were concerned the flames could spread.

Residents said the lack of power had caused problems in their homes, especially with keeping food cold and carrying out daily activities. Some families turned to generators, but they said the generators were not enough to cope with the lengthy interruption.

Tired of being without electricity, residents gathered Friday night and shut down Rancho Viejo, one of the area’s main connecting roads, in hopes of drawing attention and getting a response that would restore service.

The protest caused traffic disruptions, and authorities directed vehicles to alternate streets to keep motorists from being trapped at the blockade.

Emergency crews remained on site because of the burning objects, ready to control any blaze that could endanger protesters, drivers or nearby homes.

Hours later, workers from the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) began working to fix the fault and restore power to the affected area.

Residents stayed alert and warned they would keep up the protest until they confirmed the electricity was back, so traffic on Rancho Viejo continued to be affected for part of the night. The situation caused heavy congestion in the surrounding area while road crews worked to keep traffic moving on alternate routes.