A B.C. resident on vacation in Mexico said a car bomb went off Sunday near the bed and breakfast where she and her husband are staying as a wave of violence rolled through the country.
Millie McKinnon said they were holidaying in a quiet residential area of Bucerias, a few kilometres north of Puerto Vallarta, when their host told them it wasn’t safe to go out.
“We didn’t know of any issues until we returned from a trip to the markets about noon yesterday [Sunday] and [our] host warned us to stay inside due to the situation,” McKinnon told the Langley Advance Times on Monday.
After Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), and six others were killed Sunday in a security operation by the Mexican Army in Tapalpa, Jalisco, cartel members began torching businesses in Puerto Vallarta and many other communities, as well setting fire to hijacked cargo trucks, buses, and private vehicles to obstruct traffic.
“There were no fires nearby but a car bomb [went off] outside a local grocery store, about a five- to seven-minute walk from us,” McKinnon said. “We didn’t hear it, but a friend did. Reports shortly after [the explosion] was the grocery was still open and cards and credit were still working [but] by later afternoon everything shut down.”
McKinnon said the area, popular with tourists, was normally bustling with activity.
“It was very quiet last night,” McKinnon said Monday.
“No traffic. No music.”
McKinnon reported a military helicopter could be seen flying overhead Sunday afternoon.
A Canadian government advisory warned of violent incidents in various parts of Mexico.
“Criminal groups have set up roadblocks with burning vehicles in several cities in various parts of Mexico,” it advised.
“There have been shootouts with security forces and explosions, including on roads and highways connecting affected areas to Mexico city.”
What were described as “security incidents” have taken place across the country, especially in the following states: Narayit, where Bucarias is located, Jalisco, including Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, Guerrero, including Acapulco, Michoacán, Sinaloa, including Mazatlán, Quintana Roo, including Cancun, Baja California, including Tijuana and Tecate.
It warned the security situation could “deteriorate rapidly” in those locations and in others across Mexico.
Shelter in place orders were in effect in Jalisco and Nayarit.
Access to Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport in Puerto Vallarta was closed to all vehicular traffic Monday, and all domestic and international flights were cancelled.