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Global Affairs Canada has updated its travel advisory for the coastal city of Puerto Vallarta and other parts of the Mexican state of Jalisco following a sudden explosion of violence that has seen road blockades with burning vehicles and clashes between federal authorities and armed groups.
The advisory says there is a “shelter in place order” in Puerto Vallarta and that “all taxi and rideshare services” are suspended. It advises all Canadians in Jalisco to keep a low profile, monitor media and follow the orders of local authorities.
Jalisco Gov. Pablo Lemus Navarro posted a statement on social media platform X saying that the violence was triggered by a federal operation that unfolded earlier in the day that targeted the municipality of Tapalpa, which sits roughly 300 kilometres southeast of Puerto Vallarta.
“As a result of this operation, individuals have burned vehicles and blocked roads in various parts of the region and other areas of Jalisco to hinder the flow of people.”
Toronto resident Tim Spencer, 39, who is vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, said fires started flaring in the city early in the morning. He said he went up to the roof of the Villa Divina hotel and saw corner stores and cars in flames.
“Everything’s just covered in smoke here at the moment,” he said. “Grey and smoggy everywhere and the smell, it’s just like that electrical fuel, gross fire smell.”
Spencer said his flight to Denver, which would have then taken him to Toronto, was cancelled Sunday morning. “I’ve never really seen anything like this before in my life, so it’s a little bit horrific,” he said.
Canadian airlines cancel flights
In a post on social media platform X on Sunday afternoon, Air Canada said, “Due to an ongoing security situation in Puerto Vallarta” impacting its airport, the airline “has temporarily suspended operations there today. We are monitoring the situation and in contact with local authorities who are working to resolve the issue.”
Flights to Puerto Vallarta from Vancouver on WestJet and Flair Airlines were also cancelled.
Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, know as “El Mencho,” the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was killed, according to several local and international reports, including from Spain’s El Pais and the New York Times. The CJNG is one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations.
More to come
