The picturesque row of typical fishermen’s houses that bordered the central area of Las Terrenas Beach has burned down for a second time. The original houses were destroyed by a fire in 2012 and rebuilt. On Saturday, 4 September 2021, a fire was reported at 6:30am that swept through the restaurants and bars. No persons were injured. There are doubts on whether the area will be rebuilt as is.
Sixteen small businesses along the waterfront of Las Terrenas were destroyed when the town firemen were not able to put out the fire in time. As reported, the firemen arrived to the scene without adequate equipment, as reported. The fire was eventually put out using the water from the pool of a nearby hotel. It took the firemen six hours to put out the flames. The cause or origin of the fire is yet unknown.
El Dia reports that many neighbors suspect the fire was intentionally caused. In only a few months the ten-year leases of the businesses would expire. El Dia reports many see the businesses as unfair competition and others want the locations.
Already the mayor of Las Terrenas, Eduardo Esteban Polanco has expressed his own doubt over whether the area should be rebuilt at this point, as reported in N Digital. One of the reasons is that beach erosion is affecting the area. Polanco says the businesses should relocate to another area where there is more parking. He favors the beachfront area becoming a strictly recreational area.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Listin Diario
N Digital
Hoy
El Dia
6 September 2021