Mexican probe: Sewage gas behind hotel blast

Five Canadian tourists and two Mexican workers were killed in the explosion over the weekend

Published November 16, 2010 10:36PM (EST)

Mexican officials say new evidence suggests an accumulation of sewage gases may have caused a weekend explosion at a seaside resort that killed five Canadian tourists and two Mexican workers.

Officials had previously suggested swamp gases produced by rotting vegetable matter trapped beneath the hotel's ground floor triggered Sunday's explosion.

The governor of southeastern Quintana Roo state where the Grand Riviera Princess hotel is located says an initial investigation points to the blast probably being triggered by a broken sewage line that led to a buildup of methane gas in the foundation.

Gov. Felix Gonzalez Canto said Tuesday that the investigation continues.


By Associated Press

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