Seven people, including five Canadian tourists, were killed on
Sunday in a natural gas explosion that tore apart a beachside resort near Playa
del Carmen, Mexico, less than an hour south of Cancun in the Riviera Maya. 

Among the dead were a father and his 9-year-old son on vacation, and a groom
celebrating his wedding in Mexico.

Another 15 people, including two American tourists, were injured in the blast at
the Grand Riviera Princess resort, a sprawling 676-room hotel on Mexico’s
Caribbean coast.

The official cause of the explosion is still under investigation by Mexican
authorities, but officials have tentatively identified the cause of the
explosion as buildup from a gas line or stove that suddenly ignited.

The explosion happened around at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning in the hotel’s lobby.
The blast destroyed the lobby and took out a section of the roof.

Emergency personnel quickly reported to the scene and transferred the injured to
a local hospital. The State Department has reported that consular agents and
officers are assisting the injured Americans and American citizens staying at
the Grand Riviera Princess.

Hospital officials say that most of the injured tourists
were in stable condition on Sunday evening, and were expected to be out of the
hospital by Tuesday. Two Canadian tourists are still in critical condition with
serious injuries and are being closely monitored by the Canadian consulate in
Playa del Carmen.

The Grand Riviera Princess is a popular resort for destination weddings and
two of the tourists killed were at the hotel to attend weddings, including a
realtor from British Columbia whose new bride survived the blast.

The Mexican government issued a statement offering its condolences to the
families whose loved ones lost their lives or were injured in the blast. The
government says it has sent support from the Secretariat of Tourism to aid
affected tourists.

Among the tourists staying at the 676-room Grand Riviera Princess were 400
travelers who booked their stays through WestJet Vacations, a subsidiary of Canada‘s WestJet Airlines. WestJet Vacations sells
air-inclusive travel packages to American and Canadian travelers.

The company has stated that their emergency response team is on alert and is
working on alternative accommodations as well as transportation for travelers
who wish to cut their trip short.

By Adriana Padilla for PeterGreenberg.com. Photos via Princess Hotels & Resorts official Web site.

Related Links: CNN, National Post (Canada)

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• Peter Greenberg Interviews Mexican President Felipe Calderon
• Travel Safety & Security
• Travel Safety & Security Tips On The Early Show
• How Safe Is My Hotel? An In-Depth Look At Hotel Security
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• Ask the Locals Travel Guide: Riviera Maya, Mexico