Authorities in various Mexican cities have instructed tourists and residents to stay indoors, while advising truck drivers to use safe routes or return to work as violence and wildfires intensify.
Several airlines, including Air Canada, United, and Mexican carriers, have canceled flights to Puerto Vallarta, a coastal resort city where thick smoke from wildfires has caused panic among tourists. The violence sweeping across more than six states echoes the decades-long struggle against drug cartels, a conflict that has devastated large areas of the country.
A member of a cartel linked to the Sinaloa organization stated that the fires and sporadic gunfire are retaliatory measures following the killing of a cartel leader by the government, threatening further bloodshed. The individual, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained that the attacks were initially aimed at the government out of anger, but internal groups seeking to expand their influence may soon carry out further killings.
On the Pacific coast, five hours from the military operation site where the drug lord was killed, tourists at the Puerto Vallarta port watched in disbelief as dense clouds of smoke obscured the blue ocean, captured in footage shared online.
Daniel Drulotte, a Canadian resident who spends his winters in the city, expressed concern over a new era of violence in an area typically known for its tranquility, stating he had never seen anything like it before.
In Jalisco state, armed groups attacked a National Guard police base, leading authorities to advise hotel guests to stay inside and suspend public transportation services. Government security sources reported military responses in Agua Calientes, showing footage of a green tank breaking through a residential neighborhood and roadblocks halting traffic.
In Colima state, members of a cartel were seen blocking roads from small trucks. A transport industry group expressed deep concern over the violence on highways and advised truck drivers to stay in safe zones until conditions improve.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged the violence in a social media post but maintained a calm tone, asserting that “activities are proceeding normally across most of the country.”
