Tulum Building at Risk of Collapse

Tulum, Mexico — New photographic evidence demonstrates that the Adamar Solimán building in Tulum has begun to develop fissures, representing a risk of structural collapse. The property is the subject of ongoing litigation due to environmental violations, having been constructed without the necessary permits.

Irma Morales Cruz, an attorney for the civil association Defendiendo el Derecho a un Medio Ambiente Sano (DMAS), stated that this development confirms the fragility of the infrastructure, a consequence of its construction without environmental impact studies. Residents of the area raised the alarm regarding the situation, fearing further damage.

"Neighbors are sharing photographs of the structure where you can see that parts of the construction are cracking, as if it is not in good condition in the end. This is something we must emphasize, as we previously requested a technical report from the municipality," revealed the member of DMAS.

The building is currently under a demolition order issued by a federal judge, which was appealed by the property owners. This legal action occurred after a local resident was granted a protective order, or amparo.

Some inhabitants of the Tankah IV neighborhood, located approximately 10 kilometers north of the Tulum municipal seat, filed a lawsuit against various authorities for permitting the construction of the building in the coastal ecosystem without the required environmental permits.

"This is what happens when the necessary studies for the project in question are not conducted. We must also emphasize that Tulum's own Directorate of Civil Protection last year filed a detailed report noting that the structure had a lateral tilt and was therefore compromised," she added.

According to testimonies, the building is currently abandoned. Earlier in the second half of the year, the Quintana Roo State Attorney General's Office secured the property at the request of the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa).

The federal agency successfully petitioned a Tulum control judge to order the property secured. This followed a nearly two-year period during which the owners refused to halt construction activities, despite building without the requisite environmental permits.