Accidents & Disasters

A male American tourist identified as 68-year-old Robert Monroe Hughes died on Friday, June 14th, while on a diving tour off San Pedro Town’s coast. The deceased, a retiree, reportedly became unresponsive during the dive. While this was happening, the dive master/guide also became ill and unconscious. By the time both were rushed back to the island for medical attention, Hughes had passed away. The guide was treated and listed in stable condition.

As of May 26th, wildfires have severely impacted several locations in Belize, including the Toledo District and the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve in the Cayo District. In Toledo, large tracts of agricultural land have been destroyed, while national parks and even communities have been affected in Cayo. Volunteers and officials from government and non-governmental agencies have been collectively battling the flames that displace wildlife, destroy habitats, and threaten the livelihood of thousands in the tourism industry in western Belize.

Island resident and bartender Danny Sosa, 23, remains hospitalized after he was knocked down by a golf cart driven by an alleged intoxicated driver. Sosa's left leg was severely injured and required two surgeries. As he remains hospitalized at the Orange Walk Sugar City Medical Centre, the family is reaching out to the public for help with medical expenses. There will be a fundraising Bar-B-Que on Sunday, May 19th, on Pescador Drive in downtown San Pedro, and anyone able to make a monetary donation can do so to the account under the name of Josseline Carolina Fuentes, Belize Bank, 237446010160000. The family can also be contacted at the phone number 626-0620.

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.