Explosion at Grand Riviera Princess Resort in Cancun Kills 7
Seven people were killed yesterday and 15 more were injured in a freak explosion at the beachfront, all-inclusive Grand Grand Riviera Princess Resort in Playa del Carmen, just outside of Cancun. Five of the dead were reported to be Canadian tourists, including a nine-year-old boy while the other two were hotel employees.
From The AP:
[Attorney General of Quintana Roo, Francisco] Alor described a horrific scene in which the floor of the building was basically hurled through the ceiling by the force of the explosion, blowing out windows and sending fragments of aluminum window and ceiling panels frame over a wide area.
"Everyone said their hotel room shook. The glass at neighboring restaurants all cracked and blew out. The tiki hut that was in the area, that was on fire," said James Gaade of St. Catharines, Ontario, who was walking on the beach when he heard a loud explosion and saw smoke coming from the resort’s premium platinum lounge.
The photos from the explosion are horrifying and given how many people were on site at the resort, one would think there would be more injuries and fatalities. But even more tragic, is the possible notion that this could have been prevented. Investigators believe that natural or swamp gases beneath the resort are responsible for the blast and that could mean there was some improper construction done.
As of last night, the website for the 676-room hotel was down but we'll keep you posted on the situation as it unfolds today.
[Photo: Vancouver Sun]]
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