Poseidon Statue Closure Sparks Mayan Myth Claim

The Poseidon statue, located on Progreso beach, has been temporarily closed by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (Profepa) in Yucatan. This action was taken due to the lack of an environmental impact authorization from the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat). The statue was installed 25 meters off the coast in marine water spaces, on a beach known as 'el Playón'.

The statue was installed by the City Council in front of Progreso's International Malecon, under the direction of former mayor Julián Zacarías Curi. It was reportedly used for political promotion during a recent electoral campaign where Curi was a candidate for federal deputy from the PAN party. The statue's installation sparked controversy and became the subject of jokes and memes on social media. Some even claimed it angered the Mayan rain god, Chaac, who supposedly "sent hurricane Beryl to the Yucatan peninsula" in retaliation.

Related: Lawsuit Filed Against Poseidon Statue in Progreso, Yucatan

A local Mayan resident filed an injunction to have the statue removed, arguing that it undermined his right to preserve his Mayan culture and negatively impacted his right to a healthy environment. He claimed that the statue, as a foreign element in the sea, disrupted at least one environmental service: the landscape.

The Environmental Protection Representation Office in Yucatan stated that it will continue with the administrative procedure to determine the necessary actions regarding the statue's closure.