Tulum Cemetery Full: 150 Unregistered Graves Face Exhumation

TULUM — Approximately 150 graves in Tulum’s old cemetery remain unregistered and could be subject to exhumation to free up space, as the cemetery has reached its maximum capacity of 1,358 burial plots. Municipal authorities are preparing new notifications for the families of the deceased, following several years of unanswered requests from those who have abandoned the crypts.

The Director of Municipal Public Services, Audomaro Solís, reported that the old cemetery no longer has space for new burials, a situation that has complicated requests from families originally from Tulum who wish to bury their loved ones there. He explained that there are approximately 150 graves whose owners have not updated their documentation, despite repeated calls over the past two or three years to regularize their administrative status.

“We have around 1,358 graves and there’s no more room. There are almost 150 that aren’t properly registered, and we’ve been urging the families to come forward, but they haven’t,” the official stated, adding that new notifications will begin to be disseminated through the media this year. The goal is to comply with legal procedures before any exhumation, which would allow the remains to be transferred to designated areas for skeletal remains and free up space within the cemetery.

Solís explained that to register a burial plot, family members must submit a photograph of the grave, the death certificate, proof of the last payment, and the contact information of the responsible party. He indicated that part of the problem arose when some families received municipal assistance for burials but subsequently failed to complete the necessary paperwork.

Regarding the new cemetery, he specified that it has 192 burial plots, of which 94 are occupied and 98 remain available, so there is still capacity to accommodate new funeral services.

In preparation for the Day of the Dead celebrations, the official noted that both cemeteries are undergoing cleaning, painting, lighting repairs, and general maintenance, though he acknowledged budget limitations. He recalled that last year saw an influx of between 1,300 and 1,400 visitors, a figure they hope to reach again on November 1 and 2.

Finally, he reiterated the call to families to regularize their burial plots, as the recovery of spaces must be carried out through the notifications and procedures established by the relevant legislation.