Several details make Comalcalco a real oddball in the context of Maya cities the ancient site in Mexico’s Tabasco state was likely the westernmost major Maya settlement The name Comalcalco is not Mayan but Nahuatl and means house of the comales  — a smooth the site’s original name was Joy Chan But what makes Comalcalco stand apart is the materials from which the city was constructed Unlike virtually every other Maya city or settlement Comalcalco was built using bricks rather than limestone masonry The city is near the coast in an area full of swamps and mangroves where workable stone is in short supply and difficult to quarry The bricks are irregular in size and were made by cutting large sections of clay instead of using molds Visitors notice that many contemporary structures in the surrounding area still use this technique The city’s foundation date is not known but it is believed that Comalcalco reached its greatest splendor sometime in the 5th century CE and was completed along with other major cities such as Palenque and Yaxchilán The clay bricks used in constructing the city’s many structures give Comalcalco a unique look an architectural style similar to Palenque’s was apparently superimposed onto its temples These modifications were likely made during a time of a close alliance or perhaps occupation by Palenque Evidence suggests that following the conquest of Palenque by Tonina the city’s elite fled to Comalcalco to continue their rule in exile Comalcalco came to be dominated by Nahua groups migrating from central Mexico — as evidenced by the Nahuatl name the city is known by today The first structure to be seen when entering the site is the large pyramid known simply as Temple I. This structure has a central stairway that rises 20 meters and passes through 10 tiers in the Talud-tablero style of Teotihuacan influence Like many other notable structures at the site most of the stucco on this temple has been lost The good news is that this allows us to appreciate its unique brick construction we can observe several large pillars and walls that once supported a large sanctuary chamber Other notable constructions include Temples VI and VII which sit on a 35-meter-tall artificial platform known as the Great Acropolis The Acropolis and its structures are well known for their elaborate altars and stucco work The Great Acropolis is also notable for its extensive funerary vaults and the discovery of the largest burial ground found in the region to date Archaeologists discovered three chambers that contained the skeletal remains of 116 high-ranking individuals most of whom exhibited cosmetic features associated with Mayan elites such as cranial deformation and teeth filling and incrustations The burials are thought to date to either the late classic period (8th century CE) and also included 50 ceramic funerary urns Adjacent to the archaeological site is a great museum that houses artifacts from the site The quality and state of preservation of these artifacts are stunning Visitors can examine sculptures of marine animals and birds Additional sculptures depict the city’s elite The archaeological site is located well inside the modern city of the same name and is walkable from the local bus station terminal taking an organized tour is likely a better option Hotels in nearby Villahermosa will likely have information on tour companies organizing day trips Since the site does not receive many visitors — especially international ones — you may have to hire a private driver As with all archaeological sites in Mexico bringing food or drink other than water is prohibited The entrance fee is 65 pesos Monday through Saturday admittance is free for Mexican nationals and foreign residents with official ID Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht is a Mexican expedition/Canadian photographer and translation degrees from universities in Mexico for many the first image to come to mind is the pyramid of Kukulkán in Chichén Itzá Although Chichén Itzá is by far the most visited historical attraction on the peninsula there are another 54 interesting archaeological sites spread across the Mexican states of Yucatán The pair behind the travel blog Wandertooth have published an adult coloring book depicting the vibrant streets and landscapes of Mexico After almost a year and-a-half of planning organizers obtained conditional approval to hold the Armando Manzanero concert at Chichén Itzá on Feb What would you call Coachella if it were in Yucatán Yucatán’s Secretary of Economy and Labor has proposed large-scale music festivals in Yucatán The official posted on his X account asking whether Yucatán should host music festivals comparable to the billion-peso Tecate Pa’l Norte in Monterrey and… American lensman Earl Leaf is known for his candid photos of Hollywood stars He also captured some rare images of Merida in 1952 Designer Marjorie Skouras launched her latest collection of caftans Thursday night at Casa T’ho in Mérida The store was created not just as a showcase of her signature designs but also to support a cause close to her heart: the Kookix Music School Advertise With Us The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V., its licensors, and contributors. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies. For all open access content, the relevant licensing terms apply. COMALCALCO, Mexico (AFP-Jiji) — Volunteers are rushing to hoist food and water up into trees in sweltering southern Mexico, but help came too late for the howler monkeys whose lifeless bodies lay still on the ground. To use this site, please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page. This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content, and analyzing our website traffic. By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies. Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. Dozens of the primates are reported to have dropped dead from trees in recent weeks, alarming conservationists trying to keep the monkeys hydrated during a heat wave. Victor Morato and his team at a veterinary hospital in the town of Comalcalco in Tabasco state have treated eight howler monkeys brought in by residents. “When they arrived here in agony, they extended their hand to us as if to say ‘help me.’ I had a lump in my throat,” he told AFP. Several monkeys arrived at the clinic with body temperatures of around 43 C, Morato said. When they faint from the heat they sometimes fall 20 meters, he added. It is all the more worrying since the Mexican howler (Alouatta palliata mexicana) and the Yucatan black howler (Alouatta pigra) are considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The mantled howler (Alouatta palliata), which also lives in southern Mexico as well as Central and South America, is classified as vulnerable on the Red List of Threatened Species. Leonardo Sanchez was among those putting out water and fruit to help the animals on a cocoa plantation in the southern state of Tabasco. The thermometer has reached almost 50 C in recent weeks, the 22-year-old biology student said. “We’ve had a large number of deaths [of monkeys] due to the increased temperatures,” he said. Some volunteers carried lime to sprinkle on the bodies of dead primates. Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who hails from Tabasco, said on May 20 the heat was the worst he had known. “Since I’ve been visiting these states I’ve never felt it as much as I do now,” he said at his regular news conference. Mexico’s environment ministry has said that it is investigating whether extreme heat was killing the monkeys, with studies under way to rule out a virus or disease. Causes under consideration included heat stroke, dehydration, malnutrition or fumigation of crops with pesticides, it said. In Tabasco, a vulture lingered and flies swarmed near a grave that volunteer Bersabeth Ricardez said contained the bodies of around 30 monkeys. “Today it’s the monkeys. Tomorrow it will be us,” she said. Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting, readable fomat. © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun Reporting by Luis Manuel Lopez in Comalcalco and Raul Cortes Fernandez in Mexico City; Additional reporting by Brendan O'Boyle; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Sandra Maler Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Corruption is a widespread problem in Mexico but few incidents are as brazen as that of a police officer caught stealing items from a store in Tabasco on Sunday helped himself to candy and medications at a supermarket in the city of Comalcalco Workers shared a video on social media of the uniformed officer emptying his pockets under orders by store staff the officer stacks up a pile of products from his trouser pockets “There’s nothing more,” Antonio protested in vain “This is an absolute massacre,” the staff member said evidently surprised by the number of products in Antonio’s possession “Lower the face mask please,” the staff member added apparently to ensure that the police officer was identifiable in the video Antonio was later fired by the Comalcalco government the head of the municipality’s Public Security Ministry said the officer had shown “reprehensible conduct.” Herrera added that citizens should still trust local security forces He promised “not to tolerate conduct that breaks the law … rejecting at all times any act or oversight on the part of public servants that affects this institution.” With reports from El Universal and El Heraldo de Tabasco ADVERTISE WITH MND COMMUNITY GUIDELINES Subscription FAQ's Privacy Policy Mexico News Daily - Property of Tavana LLC A searchable database of oil and gas debt and equity offerings Prices for top E&P stocks and commodities Rextag database of energy infrastructure assets Mexico’s state-owned Pemex is on track to boost its oil condensates and gas production by around 6% each in 2023—if the company can maintain the production momentum seen in the first five months of the year is on track to boost its production of crude oil condensates and natural gas by about 6% each in 2023 over last year the company will need to maintain the production momentum its shown in the first five months of the year Pemex’s monthly oil and condensate production reached 1.88 MMbbl/d in May 2023 flat with April 2023 but up 7.4% compared to the same month a year ago according to the company’s most recent production report on its website Pemex’ oil production averaged 1.86 MMbbl/d If Pemex maintains its current production levels for the remaining seven months of the year production could rise 5.7% in 2023 compared to the prior year Pemex’s oil production is on track to grow for its fourth consecutive year according to data extrapolated by Hart Energy Oil production is on track to grow almost 10.7% since 2019 Pemex Eyes Production from Macuil #201 Exploration Well Pemex exports the bulk of its oil to the Americas and Europe The company also exports refined products such as fuel and gasoline The Mexico City-based company remains a net importer of gas since its gas production is insufficient to cover all of Mexico’s gas demand Permian Producers Fancy Larger Piped-gas Exports to Mexico Pemex’s monthly gas production reached 4.96 Bcf/d in May 2023 down 1.3% compared to April 2023 but up 7.1% compared to the same month a year ago according to the company’s production report if Pemex can maintain its current gas production levels for the rest of the year it could grow production by about 5.5% in 2023 gas production is on track to grow just 2.8% since 2019 LatinPetroleum Magazine and Banco Santiago de Leon in Caracas; Energy Intelligence and Morgan Keegan in Houston; Banco Mercantil del Norte (Banorte) in Mexico City This conversation is moderated according to Hart Energy community rules. Please read the rules before joining the discussion. If you’re experiencing any technical problems, please contact our customer care team. Energy news, analysis, interviews, and exclusive coverage you need to keep your industry edge. Subscribe for free to our newsletters for the latest energy news © 2025 Hart Energy. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part, in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited. MEXICO CITY, Mexico — A traffic accident involving a bus in southern Mexico in the early hours of Saturday killed 41 people, the government of Tabasco state said in a statement, adding that recovery work was still ongoing. The bus, which was carrying 48 people, collided with a truck, resulting in the deaths of 38 passengers and two of the drivers, the local authorities said, adding the truck driver also died. The bus was traveling between Cancun and Tabasco, according to reports. "We are attentive to the federal and state authorities to help with whatever they request," said Ovidio Peralta, the mayor of Comalcalco, a town in Tabasco. Reuters images show the bus completely burned out after it was engulfed by flames following the collision, with just the skeletal remains of the metal frame left standing. Bus operator Tours Acosta said it was "profoundly sorry about what happened" in a post on Facebook, adding it was working with authorities to find out what happened and if the bus had been traveling within the speed limit. "We are very sorry for the accident that occurred this morning," said the governor of the state of Tabasco, Javier May, on the social media network X. "We are coordinating with federal and Campeche authorities for the required attention," he added. By evening, Tabasco state's attorney general office released a statement saying it was working with Campeche authorities and the forensic sciences directorate "to carry out genetic tests that facilitate the identification of the victims". "Our condolences go out to the affected families," it said in a post. The company operating the bus said it was also collaborating with authorities on the investigation. "We have lost very dear colleagues as well as clients and friends," it said in a statement. "We appreciate their solidarity and understanding in this difficult time." Civil Defence authorities in Tabsaco say that the municipalities of Cárdenas Around 2,000 families are thought to be affected in the city of Cárdenas Institute of Civil Protection of the State (IPC) in Tabasco have since been delivering relief supplies pumps and medical consultations to affected areas said that 17 temporary shelters had been set up to house those displaced in Comalcalco and a further four in Paraíso Cookies | Privacy | Contacts © Copyright 2025 FloodList 43,000+ global companies doing business in the region 102,000+ key contacts related to companies and projects news and interviews about your industry in English Twelve of 17 municipalities in Tabasco have been flooded this week after a cold front brought heavy rain to the Gulf coast state where Pemex’s new refinery is located and Teapa are the two worst affected municipalities The other 10 municipalities where flooding has been reported are Centro (Villahermosa) Civil Protection authorities reported Thursday that over 500 homes had been flooded and that some 300 residents in 87 communities had to evacuate 👥 #BoletínInformativo II Con apoyo de las Fuerzas Armadas, atiende Gobierno de Tabasco municipios afectados por lluvias.https://t.co/qdWugP6rl4 pic.twitter.com/isz5WUxpcy — Protección Civil Tab (@ProcivilTabasco) October 20, 2022 a banana-growing municipality that borders Chiapas hundreds of hectares of land have been flooded The Teapa-Villahemosa highway was also flooded after the De La Sierra River overflowed navy and National Guard helped scores of people evacuate their homes In Paraíso, 80% of the territory is underwater, according to Mayor Ana Luis Castellanos, who said that deficiencies in the construction of the Olmeca Refinery were to blame She said that many of the water channels in the area were filled in with earth and sand that had been removed from the refinery site during construction and excess rainwater was unable to flow into them as a result the municipal palace and the local market are all flooded “… They filled the regulating reservoirs too much … and the problem we have now [is due to that],” she said “… The majority of people [in Paraíso] are [living] in water because they don’t want to leave so they don’t lose their belongings their things,” the Democratic Revolution Party mayor said “[But] the truth is that people’s things have been damaged because they didn’t have time to raise things – their beds “… We’re going to try to open up the water channels we’re already working [to receive people] in shelters we have to look after people’s health,” Castellanos said Flooding has long been a problem in Paraíso (and other parts of Tabasco) but the mayor and many residents believe that the construction of the refinery – which was officially opened in July although its not yet refining oil – has made the area more vulnerable to the phenomenon But some other residents say that a substandard drainage system — rather than the filling in of the water channels — is the main cause of flooding in Paraíso Hay medios de comunicación que escandalizan sobre la inundación de Paraíso, Tabasco y de la refinería de Dos Bocas (se anega cuando llueve parte del centro y el mercado). Compartimos imágenes de esta mañana de Paraíso y la refinería donde no se ve las inundaciones como se dice. pic.twitter.com/k5rgInOh2I — Jesús Ramírez Cuevas (@JesusRCuevas) October 21, 2022 “The mayor says that it’s due to the filling in [of the channels] … but … there isn’t a good drainage system,” José Aguilar told the Reforma newspaper a resident of the neighboring municipality of Comalcalco also blamed an inadequate drainage system for the flooding there I’m from Comalcalco and we’re all underwater the drains can’t keep up,” she wrote on social media President López Obrador’s communications coordinator asserted that claims about flooding at the refinery were false or exaggerated “There are media outlets that are making a scene about the flooding of Paraíso and the … refinery,” he wrote on Twitter Friday “… [Here are] images from this morning in Paraíso and the refinery where the flooding they’re talking about is not seen,” Ramírez Cuevas added above four photos of the town and refinery With reports from Reforma and Proceso  Jason Lemon is a Senior Politics Editor at Newsweek based in Brooklyn, New York politics and international affairs. He joined Newsweek in 2018 and had previously worked as an editor at a Middle Eastern media startup called StepFeed He also worked a year as a contributor to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and has bylines in The Christian Science Monitor Al Fanar Media and A Magazine. He is a graduate of the American University of Beirut in Lebanon and Andrews University in Michigan You can get in touch with Jason by emailing j.lemon@newsweek.com either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content Mexico's president has asked Spain and the Catholic Church to formally apologize for the "abuses" they committed against indigenous Mexicans about 500 years ago "I have sent a letter to the king of Spain and another to the pope calling for a full account of the abuses and urging them to apologize to the indigenous peoples [of Mexico] for the violations of what we now call their human rights," President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said in a video accompanied by his wife at the historic indigenous city of Comalcalco The so-called conquest was waged with the sword and the cross They built their churches on top of the [indigenous] temples," he continued Estamos en Comalcalco, vamos a Centla a conmemorar 500 años de la batalla de los españoles contra la resistencia de los mayas-chontales. pic.twitter.com/glYO0eAMtX About 80 percent or more of Mexicans identify as Catholics and the country maintains positive relations with Spain López Obrador said "the time has come to reconcile." refusing to apologize for the actions of its people's ancestors "The arrival, 500 years ago, of Spaniards to present Mexican territory cannot be judged in the light of contemporary considerations," the Spanish government said in a statement, according to the BBC "Our two brother nations have always known how to read our shared past without anger and with a constructive perspective." The Vatican did not release a public statement and did not immediately respond to Newsweek's request for comment Pope Francis visited Mexico and appeared to ask for an apology from indigenous Mexicans "Some have considered your values, culture and traditions to be inferior," he said at the time, the Associated Press reported have stolen your lands or contaminated them," he continued calling for a collective: "Forgive me." The pope also previously offered a broad apology in 2015 to all the indigenous people harmed by the church's actions during the centuries of conquest Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés was responsible for the original brutal conquest of Mexico in the early 1500s superior weapons and the aid of of diseases unknown in the so-called "New World" at the time Cortés defeated the powerful Aztec empire and implemented Spanish rule over what is now Mexico Spanish rule lasted for approximately 300 years before the country became independent along with other Spanish conquerors and explorers are known in history for their extreme brutality having carried out large-scale massacres of indigenous populations in Latin America The Catholic church was integral in supporting these missions as Spanish and church leaders saw the conquest as an important way to spread the message of Christianity Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all authorities have confirmed the identification of 18 victims expressed deep condolences in a Facebook post The company assured the public that they were working with authorities to determine the cause of the crash and to assess the speed of the bus at the time of the collision A tragic accident in Mexico claimed the lives of 41 people when a bus carrying 48 passengers collided with a truck on a highway The incident occurred in Comalcalco while the bus was en route from Cancun to Tabasco the collision caused the bus to burst into flames “We are closely coordinating with federal and state authorities to provide any necessary assistance,” Ovidio said.   ALSO READ: Delhi-NCR Enjoys Mild Weather; IMD Issues Rain Warning For Haryana, Punjab | Check Forecast  Images from the scene reveal the devastating aftermath with only the metal frame of the bus remaining The fire spread rapidly giving no time to people to escape. Emergency service was activated soon after the incident and the injured rushed to the nearest hospital Authorities confirmed on Saturday afternoon that all victims have been recovered from the crash site and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the tragic accident Witnesses reported that the bus suffered a blown tyre which caused the driver to lose control and collide with a truck some witnesses suggested that a granite block struck the bus ALSO READ: Delhi Chief Minister Atishi To Tender Resignation To LG Saxena Day After AAP's Election Defeat  the operator vowed that strict action would be taken against those responsible for the incident the company promised compensation for the families of the victims and assured that they stand in solidarity with the grieving families Jagran English brings you all the latest and breaking news from India and around the world Follow english.jagran.com to stay updated with the latest English news More than three dozen people have died in an accident involving a bus in southern Mexico as local authorities expressed condolences to the families of the victims The bus was travelling between Cancun and Tabasco according to reports on Saturday (local time) "We are attentive to the federal and state authorities to help with whatever they request," said Ovidio Peralta Some 44 passengers were travelling on the bus according to a list shared by the bus operator "Tours Acosta is profoundly sorry about what happened," the company said in a post on Facebook adding that it was working with authorities to find out what happened and that the bus had been travelling within speed limits Authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters An aircraft matching the description of the regional airline flight that disappeared in Alaska with 10 people aboard Thursday has been found Pilots of the American Airlines jet seemed to try to pull up just before hitting a Black Hawk helicopter over Washington A person in their car at the site of the crash was also killed World RSS Follow RNZ News