“Hurricane Beryl’s Impact on Quintana Roo: Tourist Hotspots Survive Unscathed!”

Hurricane Beryl, one of the most powerful storms recorded in the Atlantic, recently hit popular tourist destinations in Quintana Roo, including Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Isla Mujeres. The storm had already claimed at least 11 lives in the Caribbean islands, leading to fears of a similar outcome in Mexico. However, despite making landfall as a category 2 hurricane, no casualties have been reported in Mexico. "Normality is being restored. There is a zero casualty report; the prevention work of so many days resulted beneficially," stated Laura Velázquez, national coordinator of Civil Protection, during a press conference.

In the hours following Beryl's passage, authorities and businesses began working to restore services and reopen establishments, particularly in tourist areas. Cancun Airport, which saw over 32 million passengers in 2023, resumed operations by midday, with 281 flights scheduled for the following Friday, according to the Southeast Airport Group (Asur). Despite the storm, hotel occupancy remained at 62.7%, with 314,245 tourists staying throughout the state, as reported by the Quintana Roo Department of Tourism.

Damage to infrastructure was minimal. In Tulum, the coastal road in the hotel zone remains closed due to seawater intrusion. Reports indicate flooding, fallen trees, and minor damage to wooden structures and traditional huts, known as palapas.

In Cancun, public transportation services were restored in the morning, and workers began removing protective boards from the hotel zone. Most tourist areas have already reported reopening establishments for shopping and entertainment.

However, several beaches in the Cancun hotel zone remain closed due to strong waves and debris washed up on the shore. Additionally, the state of Tamaulipas, bordering Texas, United States, remains on high alert as Hurricane Beryl could potentially hit the area between Sunday and Monday after leaving the Yucatan Peninsula on Friday and regaining strength in the Gulf of Mexico.