British Columbians vacationing in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, describe waking to explosions and burning vehicles as cartel-related violence prompts a shelter-in-place order and widespread flight cancellations.
Eyewitness Accounts of Chaos
Yogi Omar, a Vancouver resident celebrating his 40th birthday, mistook early Sunday morning blasts for fireworks. “Then my friend said, ‘Oh my God, they’re blowing things up,'” Omar recounted. He witnessed cars exploding across the city, creating scenes resembling a war zone.
Guests at Omar’s apartment building evacuated briefly after arsonists set a vehicle ablaze near a nearby gas station. He later sought refuge in a local home with around 200 others, hosted by an Ottawa man named Norman. “We’re all starving, just trying to find crackers or anything,” Omar said. “More than anything, we want to ensure our safety.”
Omar, part of the queer community, praises Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco state as a welcoming haven. “It’s a little slice of heaven,” he says. “There aren’t many places where we can exist authentically without explaining ourselves.” Yet the violence has shattered that security.
Leigh Carter from Courtenay, B.C., heard loud booms and apparent gunshots downtown. “There were constant explosions and sirens, then it got very quiet—no dogs or roosters,” she reported. Burned vehicles blocked key intersections.
Ryan Voutilainen, another Vancouverite and frequent visitor, saw motorbikes speed by before setting a car on fire near his Airbnb in the Zona Romantica neighborhood. “A group of five or more… set it ablaze and began ransacking a local store,” he described. This marks the first time he has felt unsafe there. His return flight canceled, he plans to stay several days as businesses remain shuttered.
Cartel Leader’s Death Sparks Unrest
The violence erupted following federal authorities’ announcement of a special forces operation targeting Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Officials confirm Oseguera Cervantes died from injuries sustained in a clash while en route to Mexico City.
Jalisco’s governor stated on social media that public transport stays suspended until order returns, with arsonists burning vehicles and erecting roadblocks to hinder security forces.
Travel Disruptions and Advisories
Flight tracking reveals cancellations between Vancouver International Airport and Puerto Vallarta, including some Canada-bound planes turning back mid-air. Direct routes from Comox, popular with locals, face high demand disruptions.
Global Affairs Canada warns of a shelter-in-place order in Puerto Vallarta and parts of Jalisco. Nearly 19,000 Canadians register in Mexico, including about 5,000 in Jalisco. Authorities urge all residents and visitors to stay indoors until the situation stabilizes.
