Residents Reopen Chetumal-Escárcega Highway After CFE Responds to Power Outage

Nicolás Bravo, Quintana Roo — Residents of Nicolás Bravo reopened the Chetumal-Escárcega highway on Saturday afternoon after blocking it for about two hours to protest a power outage that left parts of the community without electricity for more than 24 hours.

The blockade, built with stones, logs, tires, and human barriers, caused traffic congestion on the main route connecting Quintana Roo with Campeche. Residents said the power cuts have lasted anywhere from minutes to days and have spoiled food, hurt local businesses, and put children, chronically ill patients, and older adults at risk during extreme heat.

They said they had filed repeated complaints with the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) without a lasting solution. On Saturday, CFE personnel arrived with two vehicles and a transformer, which residents said appeared to be the source of the outages. The road was cleared shortly after the crews arrived.

Residents warned they would not rule out further roadblocks or other actions if the power failures are not fully resolved.

Similar protests have taken place across the state in recent weeks. On July 3, residents of Bacalar briefly blocked the Chetumal-Cancún highway to demand an end to outages affecting at least 11 neighborhoods. In Chetumal, neighbors staged a protest at the CFE’s local office, and in Calderitas, residents were gathering signatures and considering direct actions, including highway blockades.