A fire broke out at Acapulco’s Central Market early Wednesday, damaging more than 100 stalls. No serious injuries or fatalities were reported.
The blaze began before 6 a.m. and quickly spread to engulf scores of stalls in the footwear and flowers sections of the market, the largest in Acapulco.
Some 100 firefighters brought the fire under control on Wednesday, but continued working on Thursday to “cool down” three spots from which smoke was still emanating, according to the Acapulco-based newspaper El Sur.
The cause of the blaze hasn’t been officially determined, but a short circuit in the market’s electrical system has been identified as a possible trigger. Raúl Noyola Rocha, Acapulco’s civil protection chief, said Thursday that an investigation by the Guerrero Attorney General’s Office would take up to a week to yield results.
The Acapulco municipal government on Wednesday reported a preliminary toll of 90 stalls damaged — 75 in the market’s footwear section and 15 in the flowers section.
However, Acapulco Mayor Leticia Lozano said Thursday that a total of 108 stalls were in fact damaged.
El Sol de Acapulco reported that cleanup work, including the removal of rubble, was taking place at the market on Thursday. Mexican soldiers and affected shopkeepers were assisting the efforts.
El Sol de Acapulco reported that there was still smoke in the market on Thursday and that “new outbreaks of flames” were occurring. The newspaper also reported the presence of “burnt metallic structures” and “goods reduced to ashes.”
Affected stallholders are set to receive an initial economic support payment from the municipal government on Friday. The government didn’t specify how much each stallholder will get.
Local authorities are also planning to adapt part of the market to accommodate up to 110 temporary stalls while the footwear and flower sections are rebuilt.
El Sol de Acapulco reported that a total of 12 fires have now occurred at the Acapulco Central Market, which was built in 1969. A massive blaze in 2023 destroyed around 570 stalls.
With reports from El Sol de Acapulco and El Sur
