DR Fire ravages shrimp boats in Mazatlán and exposes negligence
Two boats burned during the night at Parque Bonfil; the causes remain unclear
On the night of April 14, Mazatlán was shaken by a strong fire that consumed two shrimp boats in the Alfredo V. Bonfil Industrial Park.
The fire began around 11:25 at night and extended into the early morning, causing panic among fishermen and port workers. The flames swept through key areas of the vessels: cabins, kitchens, and cabins were consumed in minutes without anything being done.
The quick response of the firefighters prevented a greater catastrophe. At least 15 nearby boats were at risk. The area, crowded with vessels, could have ended in a multiple tragedy.
A second fire, same omissions
Hours later, a second vessel was also reached by the flames. The fire spread again without initial control.
Meanwhile, the emergency body had to contain what the authority should have prevented. So far, no injuries have been reported.
Paper port security
The causes are still being investigated. But in a port like Bonfil, where flammable materials, engines, and diesel abound, the slightest neglect can escalate in minutes.
And there are no visible protocols or permanent containment teams.
The docks operate as if nothing happened. Without night surveillance, without technical inspections, and with boats that spend weeks docked without review.
Official silence, emergency routine
Neither the Port Captaincy nor state authorities have issued a firm stance.
Only generic promises of “investigation” and “follow-up.” The same empty statements as always.
The Bonfil Park is not an exception. It is a reflection of a system that normalized risk and manages abandonment.
What if next time there are victims?
This time, the damages were material.
But how many more disasters will have to occur for someone to act?
How many boats must catch fire for a serious prevention system to be installed?
Mazatlán lives off fishing and the sea. But its authorities govern as if the ports were no man's land.
Because when the fire returns every year, it is no longer an accident: it is a consequence of omission. And what burns is not just wood and iron... it is the trust of an entire sector forgotten by the State.
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