Two fires in 24 hours on the east coast

A second top-level yacht caught fire today in the port of Punta del Este, causing alarm among port authorities and boat owners. The incident occurred just 24 hours after a similar event, which has sparked speculation and concern in the nautical area of the country's main resort.

The damaged vessel, Invictus, belongs to former mayoral candidate for the Partido Nacional, Rolando Rozenblum, and businessman Marcel Gerwer, husband of former senator Verónica Alonso. The yacht was moored at dock number 2 in the port when it began to emit black smoke and flames visible from the mainland.

A fire with no victims, but many questions

According to the National Navy, the fire was detected in the early hours of the morning. Personnel from the Coast Guard and Fire Department managed to control the flames before they spread to other vessels. No injuries or crew members on board were reported at the time of the incident.

The port's harbormaster, Sebastián Sorribas, explained that the probable cause of the fire was an electrical overload in the vessel's battery system, possibly connected to the dock's electrical grid. "There are no elements that lead us to believe it was an attack or sabotage. Everything indicates it was an electrical accident," he stated.

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Concern over similar incidents

The event occurred less than 24 hours after the fire of another high-end yacht in the same marina, which has led some local stakeholders to raise the possibility of a structural failure in the port's electrical installations or even intentional actions.

So far, authorities haven't established a direct connection between the two incidents, although a thorough review of port and security facilities has been announced.

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Ongoing investigation

The National Navy and the Maldonado Fire Department have begun the corresponding investigations to determine the exact causes of the fire. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to strengthen security controls in the port and prevent further incidents.

Although no victims have been reported, the timing coincidence between the two fires has raised red flags among boat owners and local authorities, who are awaiting the results of the investigation to clarify what happened.