Passengers remain stranded at Guadalajara International Airport following flight suspensions and lack of transport in Tlajomulco, Jalisco State, Mexico. Photo / Ulises Ruiz, AFP
Passengers remain stranded at Guadalajara International Airport following flight suspensions and lack of transport in Tlajomulco, Jalisco State, Mexico. Photo / Ulises Ruiz, AFP
The US State Department has urged American citizens in Mexico to shelter in place amid violence, roadblocks and flight cancellations after Mexican soldiers killed a top cartel boss.
“Due to ongoing, widespread security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity in many areas of Mexico, US citizens should shelterin place until further notice,” said a statement from the department’s Consular Affairs section on social media platform X.
“Roadblocks have impacted airline operations, with some domestic and international flights canceled in both Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta,” it said.
Nemesio Oseguera, the 59-year-old leader of the violent Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was wounded in a clash with soldiers in the town of Tapalpa and died while being flown to Mexico City, the army said in a statement. He had a US$15 million ($25m) bounty on his head.
Canada said it was monitoring the situation closely and advised Canadians in Mexico to “keep a low profile and follow advice of local authorities”.
It urged citizens in Michoacan, Guerrero and Jalisco states to shelter in place, citing “shootouts with security forces and explosions”.
Several US and Canadian airlines cancelled flights to parts of Mexico on Sunday following the unrest.
American carriers United, Southwest and Alaska, as well as the Canadian airlines Air Canada and WestJet/Sunwing, announced the cancellation of flights to Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara and Manzanillo.
