The episode of violence in Playas del Laguito during the recent Independence Festival of Cartagena has revived the debate about the safety and quality of tourist services in the city.
The circulation of a video on social networks, in which a massive fight between “carperos”—informal tent rental workers—and tourists is evident.once again exposed the latent tension in the coastal area when the influx of visitors increases.
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In the images shared, the participation of more than ten people involved in the altercation was identified. The record shows how one of the tourists received a forceful blow to the head with a bottlea fact that generated alarm both among those present and among those who saw the video on the Internet.
Among the possible causes of the confrontation, the annoyance due to high prices and poor service that, according to various opinions, characterize the service on the beaches in the sector.
The dissemination of the video caused a wave of reactions on social networks, where users expressed their concern about the safety of both visitors and residents of Cartagena during the celebrations.
Criticism focused on the need to improve care and protection conditions in tourist areas, especially on high-traffic dates such as national holidays.
“No carpenters, no braiders, no massagers, or anything, when everyone is told by name: SCAMMERS, then things begin to be taken seriously. The rest will follow a thousand cases of these”; “People are no longer going to share in these places. Where you are supposed to enjoy, they are only going to look for problems!”; “Cowardly and behind the back. Cartagena is turning into chaos. I experienced it in person, it’s a shame because there are honest people”; “Services that you don’t ask for and they charge you, that’s why those things happen, they are rats”; “Whoever sends them to take services from that crowd, and even more so now that the holidays have left them bare, they are going to get double or triple as much from the tourists”; “I honestly don’t understand why people keep going to Cartagena”: were some of the messages on social networks.
A scene of violence forced dozens of people to leave El Laguito beach in Cartagena, after the outbreak of a physical dispute caused by an alleged theft.
Witnesses who captured the situation on video described how tension escalated quickly after a group of tourists accused locals of theft and, without mediation, the confrontation went from words to physical attacks in front of visitors and families.
The reaction of those who witnessed the altercation was immediate: many, concerned for their safety, chose to leave the scene to avoid being caught in the brawl. “Me trying to enjoy the ride and… oh, I’m leaving. What is this? “The police are pure bullshit.”said one of the spectators in the recording, reflecting the perception of poor police effectiveness during the first moments of the confrontation.
In total, at least eight people participated in the fight, as seen in the videos spread by bathers through social networks. According to what was captured in the images, The intervention of the agents occurred after the situation got out of control, deploying a deterrence strategy with basic equipment to separate those involved and restore order in the area.
The incident interrupted the calm that, until then, dominated the atmosphere in one of the busiest tourist spots in the city.
