By Zoila Palma: The main access route to Flores Island in Guatemala’s Petén department was cut off on June 16 after a section of the landfill bridge connecting Santa Elena and the island collapsed, Prensa Libre reports.
The incident occurred at the entrance to Flores Island, forcing authorities to restrict vehicular traffic and close the roadway while assessments of the damage are conducted.
According to reports, only a small number of vehicles belonging to residents and offices located on the island were able to enter before access was completely shut down. The closure has raised concerns among residents and members of the tourism sector, as Flores Island is one of Petén’s most important tourist destinations and a key hub for national and international visitors including thousands of Belizeans.
The island of Flores, Peten is known for its exquisite local cuisine, night life and activities around the island.
The collapse came despite warnings issued by Guatemala’s National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED), which had identified serious deterioration of the bridge and landfill structure in a technical report completed in January 2025.
The report found that rising water levels in Lake Petén Itzá and constant wave action had eroded fill material, exposing structural supports and causing undermining, deformations, and other damage. CONRED warned that without intervention, the deterioration could lead to a loss of connectivity between Santa Elena and Flores.
The post International News: Collapse of Flores access bridge disrupts connectivity to major tourist destination appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: The main access route to Flores Island in Guatemala’s Petén department was cut off on June 16 after a section of the landfill bridge connecting Santa Elena and the island collapsed, Prensa Libre reports. The incident occurred at the entrance to Flores Island, forcing authorities to restrict vehicular traffic and close the roadway
The post International News: Collapse of Flores access bridge disrupts connectivity to major tourist destination appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
