Accidents & Disasters
Accidents & Disasters
Police Investigate Burglary and Arson at Newly Opened Island Supermarket
Police and the San Pedro Fire Service are continuing investigations into a burglary and arson incident at a newly opened supermarket north of San Pedro Town that occurred just before dawn on December 14th. The establishment, Island Supermarket, located in the Tres Cocos Area, was targeted by two male individuals. Police reported that at approximately 3:40AM, the suspects, dressed in camouflage hooded jackets and wearing face masks, gained entry into the building after damaging and cutting the entrance shutter using a crowbar and a steel cutter.
Accidents & Disasters
Passengers and Staff Sustain Minor Injuries After Water Taxi Runs Aground in Mangrove Channel
The Belize Port Authority (BPA) responded to a marine emergency on December 13th after a passenger vessel operated by Caribbean Sprinter ran aground in a mangrove area shortly after leaving Belize City. The water taxi was on its regular route between Caye Caulker and San Pedro Town on Ambergris Caye when the incident happened. BPA personnel, including a coxswain and crew, helped in responding to the situation. Authorities confirmed that while the captain and three passengers had minor injuries, no serious injuries were reported. All remaining passengers were safely transferred to another vessel and taken to their respective destinations.
Accidents & Disasters
Fire in the San Pablo Subdivision destroys household items
A fire reported on Sunday, November 30th, at an apartment in the San Pablo area south of San Pedro Town left a couple without several essential belongings, including fans and their bed. The Fire Service reported no injuries, and electrical issues were the cause of the fire.
According to reports, passersby noticed flames near the bedroom window around 7PM. A bucket brigade was quickly organized as nearby residents rushed to help. By the time firefighters and police arrived, the residents had already extinguished the fire, acting swiftly to contain it.
Accidents & Disasters
BEL among Regional Teams Supporting Jamaica as Power and Water Restoration Continue
Belize Electricity Limited’s (BEL) team of specialized line workers remains on the ground in Jamaica as the country continues large-scale recovery efforts following the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Melissa. The crew, led by Line Supervisor Tyrone Reynolds and including Power Line Technicians Kareem Lopez, Perr Tillett, Ethan Alvarado, Bladimir Alvarez, Adolfo Oliva, and Kendale August, traveled to Jamaica on November 12th to support the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS) in restoring the island’s severely damaged electricity grid. Their deployment is part of a wider regional response coordinated by the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC).
Accidents & Disasters
No Injuries Reported After Water Taxi Runs Aground in Southern Ambergris Caye
A routine boat trip that began in Chetumal, Mexico, and was bound for San Pedro Town on November 16th took an unexpected turn when a San Pedro Belize Express water taxi ran aground in shallow waters. The incident occurred near the Belize Coast Guard base shortly after the vessel departed the San Pedro International Terminal en route to Caye Caulker. No injuries were reported, and a second vessel was dispatched to safely transport passengers to the Caye Caulker port.
Accidents & Disasters
Belize provides US$400K in hurricane relief to Jamaica and Cuba
Belize has extended support to its Caribbean neighbors in the wake of Hurricane Melissa, pledging US$200,000 each to Jamaica and Cuba for emergency relief operations. The assistance was announced on November 11th, following the Category 5 storm’s devastating impact across the region in late October. Belize’s government, along with local relief organizations, also dispatched relief packages to Belizean students affected by the hurricane in both countries.
Accidents & Disasters
Hurricane Melissa brings devastation to Jamaica and other Caribbean nations
Category 5 Hurricane Melissa made landfall in southwestern Jamaica on Tuesday, October 28th, before moving north over eastern Cuba and parts of Haiti, leaving a trail of destruction across the Caribbean. The powerful storm brought catastrophic flooding, landslides, and sustained winds of up to 185 miles per hour, tearing roofs from buildings, uprooting trees, and devastating infrastructure, agriculture, and tourism in its path.
Accidents & Disasters
Fire Guts Small Business North of San Pedro Town
The San Pedro Fire Service is investigating an early morning fire on Saturday, October 4th, that destroyed a business stall north of San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye. The proprietor, Estela Chamul, expressed gratitude to those assisting her family in the aftermath of the blaze and shared that anyone wishing to help can reach them at 629-2510.
Accidents & Disasters
San Pedro Gas Turbine brought online after major power outage
A major power outage on Friday, September 26th, affected much of the country, including San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, after a system collapse in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula disrupted Belize’s power supply. On the island, the San Pedro Gas Turbine was immediately brought online at full capacity to keep most of the town powered until the system stabilized. The incident highlighted Belize’s heavy reliance on imported electricity from Mexico.
Accidents & Disasters
Child Injured Following Collision with SPTC Vehicle
A nine-year-old boy was hospitalized with a broken foot after being hit by a truck driven by a San Pedro Town Council (SPTC) employee on September 16th in the San Mateo area. The Town Council has since acknowledged the incident and provided financial assistance to the family.
Accidents & Disasters
American tourist dies while jet skiing near Secret Beach
The San Pedro Police Department is investigating the sudden death of an American tourist on Friday, September 26th, while he was riding a jet ski near Secret Beach. The deceased has been identified as 58-year-old Daryl La Mont McCray. Reports indicate that McCray had gone jet skiing with friends when he was later found floating in the water. Despite immediate assistance and being rushed to a medical facility, he was pronounced dead on arrival.
