Accidents & Disasters

Following this fire, the San Pedro Fire Department urges the public to be cautious and vigilant, as they are unpredictable and can occur anytime and anywhere. With the dry season in full effect, Belizeans are starting to feel the heat. And with heat comes the threat of increased fire incidents, especially wildfires.

Following a nearly tragic incident involving a large dump truck and a man on a bicycle, an online petition to better monitor or possibly stop the flow of large vehicles in downtown San Pedro was launched. The accident happened on Thursday, April 18th, when the individual was reportedly pinned to a utility post when a huge truck tried to make a right turn at the end of Angel Coral Street. Passersby alerted the cyclist just in time. Medical personnel assisted the bicyclist, who was treated for minor injuries. However, this incident fueled rising concerns from islanders who believe urgent action is necessary to prevent a potential tragedy. As a result, resident Carina Paz created an online petition with over a thousand signatures by Wednesday, April 24th.

Swimming off the northern beaches may be tempting for many, as the second-longest barrier reef is close to shore, and the water between the beach and the reef is inviting. However, swimmers should not go beyond specific points from the shore of the dock to prevent serious accidents.

Eight San Pedro residents were involved in a boating accident on Wednesday afternoon, February 28th, prompting the Belize Coast Guard (BCG) to conduct a search and rescue operation between the Turneffe Atoll and English Caye. The operation managed to locate everyone; however, one of the islanders did not survive the ordeal. The deceased was identified as Sylvio Camara, a former teacher from San Pedro.

On Monday night, February 19th, a fire broke out in a laundromat business on Seagrape Drive, south of San Pedro Town. According to the island's Fire Service, the fire was caused by an electrical issue. Although the volunteers and firefighters responded swiftly and managed to contain the fire before it could spread to other buildings, the wooden structure of the laundromat was gutted by the blaze.

On Wednesday, February 14th, the lifeless body of a male person was found floating in the sea south of San Pedro Town. The deceased was identified as 43-year-old Jose Adalberto Ventura of the San Pablo Subdivision. The unfortunate incident labeled by police as sudden death is being investigated as ‘An Apparent Drowning’ as no foul play is suspected.

To better respond to fire emergencies in San Pedro Town, the local fire service conducted a simulation exercise on Thursday, February 8th, along one of the busiest streets in the downtown area. The exercise evaluated the fire station’s ability to execute an efficient deployment strategy to contain a fire disaster and save property and lives.

On Tuesday, January 9th, American tourist Steven Mark Kurenitz, 76, died in Caye Caulker while swimming at the popular spot called ‘The Split.’ His...