"Ontarians staying in Mexico are in disbelief after tensions between cartels and the military began to escalate Sunday morning. Puerto Vallarta, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, is under a shelter in place. Criminal groups have set up roadblocks, lit local businesses on fire and gunshots have been heard in several cities across southwestern Mexico. The violence was triggered after 'El Mencho,' the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was killed during a clash with military special forces."
"Port Stanley, Ont., resident Susan Merucci, who is staying at a hotel in Puerto Vallarta, says she was flabbergasted by the situation, especially as she's been visiting Mexico with her husband for more than 32 years. It was just unbelievable, she told CBC Toronto Sunday. We've never had a problem in all of the time that we've been coming down here."
"The federal government is closely monitoring the situation, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said in a statement. Merucci has been in Mexico since December and will remain there until April, when she's supposed to fly back after avoiding the Canadian winter. It's definitely eerie and scary, because normally you see people on the street and the streets are full of buses, cars and taxis, she said. [Now] it's just like a ghost town."
Violence escalated across southwestern Mexico after 'El Mencho,' leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was killed during a clash with military special forces. Puerto Vallarta was placed under shelter-in-place as criminal groups set up roadblocks, burned businesses and gunfire was reported. Ontario residents staying in Puerto Vallarta described fear, emptied streets and targeted grocery stores, with some remaining until spring. The Government of Canada issued regional travel advisories urging high caution. The federal government said it is closely monitoring the situation while travellers reported explosions, anxiety and uncertainty amid the unrest.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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