The fire that changed the coast
Early Friday morning did not bring waves, but flames. A raging fire devastated Punta Zicatela, one of the tourist icons of Oaxaca, and left a landscape of ashes where there was life before. At least 15 restaurants, 40 palapas and dozens of craft stalls were consumed. The wind, that eternal ally of the surfer, became an enemy and fueled the disaster.
The images on networks are heartbreaking. Towering flames devouring structures of wood and palm, a cloud of smoke that covered the stars, and among the chaos, the desperate voice of a man asking for help. Firefighters, Civil Protection and neighbors put together an epic battle against the fire that lasted more than two hours.
“The incident left total losses for many of the businesses,” said Román Valencia, municipal president of Santa María Colotepec.
The miraculous thing: there are no human victims to regret. At least a dozen families were evacuated in time. Today, among the blackened structures that still stand, the hardest stage begins: raising what the fire took away.
And now what?
While those affected remove debris with hands still trembling, the state government assures that the attention was immediate. They promise support to merchants and a clear message to the world: “tourist activities in Punta Zicatela and its surroundings are working as normal.”
But normality is the last thing we breathe here. The question that burns brighter than the flames is simple: how did it all start? The causes are still being investigated. Meanwhile, an entire community watches its dreams reduced to charcoal and prepares for the most difficult act: starting over.
