At least ten privately owned vessels of different sizes were damaged extensively in a devastating marina fire in La Paz, Mexico. The blaze has since been put out, but the most challenging work is only beginning for authorities.
The fire started in the dead of night on Thursday, November 2, in a section of the Marina Palmira in Mexico, the Guardia Nacional informs. An investigation is now underway to determine the exact causes of the incident, but it is believed the fire started onboard one of the four yachts that have already sunk.
At least ten vessels were engulfed in flames at one point, as the fire spread quickly from those four yachts to neighboring vessels due to high winds, aided by the close proximity in the marina. Those four yachts on which the fire supposedly started sank after burning down completely; the other six have taken 80 to 90% percent damage, the local press says.
As a result of the incident, the Guardia Nacional activated the PlanGN_A emergency plan (Emergency Assistance Plan for Society) while first-responders fought to keep the blaze under control. Despite the severity of the incident – this is perhaps the most severe marina fire in recent years – no injuries have been reported as of the time of press.
Photo: Guardia Nacional
But those four yachts that sunk are a total loss, and the real danger right now is to contain fuel spillage in the marina. Authorities are working to do just that with the damaged hulls still afloat while planning the recovery of the other four that went under. The ongoing investigation will also determine the environmental risks posed by the damaged and sunken hulls.
The yachts that went under and are believed to be a complete loss are Optimus, Perfecto, Mira Viliz, and Invictus, with Optimus being the largest of the lot – and a popular charter platform. Delivered in 2019 by Hatteras Yachts, Optimus was 32.6 meters (106.9 feet) long and could accommodate as many as ten guests across five staterooms, offering an interior volume of 180 GT. Powered by Caterpillar diesel engines, the yacht could max out at 25 knots (28.7 mph/46.3 kph).
Most photos released by the Guardia Nacional and included in the gallery above show what was left of the hull of Optimus before it sunk, with the entire superstructure and part of the hull lost to the blaze.
The only other bigger incident of this kind to occur this year was the one in Marbella, Spain, when sparks set ablaze a storage and repairs facility, damaging some 80 boats of all sizes. No injuries were reported then, either, because the fire started after all the workmen had gone home for the night.
La #GuardiaNacional activó el #PlanGN_A de auxilio a la población, tras registrarse un incendio que afectó diversas embarcaciones en el área de Marina Palmira en el municipio de La Paz #BCS. En la zona se brinda seguridad perimetral y apoyo con una cisterna para sofocar el fuego. pic.twitter.com/8dZ6sNln9D
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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