Mexico hotel blast blamed on gas line leak

New evidence suggests a gas-line leak was the cause of a deadly hotel explosion in Mexico that killed five Canadian tourists, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Investigators found an unauthorized extension of a gas line under the lounge of the Grand Riviera Princess Hotel in Playa del Carmen, which exploded Nov. 14, according to Attorney General Francisco Alor. Two Mexicans also died in the blast.

The line had apparently been damaged and leaked prior to the explosion, said Alor, who represents Quintana Roo state, where the hotel was located.

Officials had earlier said an accumulation of swamp or sewage gas may have fuelled the blast.

Alor acknowledged those accumulations may have been contributors. But he said the heating gas line appears to be the main culprit and may have been set off by a spark from an electric switch or plug.  

Municipal officials have fined the hotel almost $487,000 because the original building plans didn't have construction permits and did not match the completed structure.

In November, Alor described a horrific scene in which the floor of the building was basically hurled through the ceiling by the force of the explosion, blowing out windows and sending fragments of aluminum window and ceiling panels over a wide area.

Eighteen people were also injured, including eight Canadians, eight Mexican employees of the hotel and two U.S. citizens.