What to know about the Mexico travel warning as violence rocks the country
Violence erupted in Mexico on Sunday, with gunmen blocking highways and setting cars ablaze in several cities, citizens in a popular beachside resort town being advised to shelter in place and Canadian airlines cancelling flights to and from the region.Global Affairs Canada is advising people to exercise a high degree of caution if they are in Mexico and avoid non-essential travel in several states, saying that the security situation "could deteriorate rapidly" across the country."The safety and security of Canadians abroad remains our top priority," Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said in a news conference Monday. But what happened? Which areas are the most dangerous? And what about the thousands of Canadians currently stranded in Puerto Vallarta?Let's break it down.WATCH | Anand expects situation to normalize soon:During a press conference Monday to address the security situation in Mexico where Puerto Vallarta, in the state of Jalisco, is under a shelter in place order, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand said that as of 7 a.m. this morning, 26,305 Canadians in Mexico registered with Global Affairs Canada, but the actual number is likely much higher.What happened?Yesterday, one of Mexico's most notorious drug lords, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, or "El Mencho," was killed in a military raid. His death promptly sparked widespread retaliatory violence. After reports of the 59-year-old leader's death, cartel henchmen blockaded highways with burning cars and torched businesses in more than a half a dozen states, paralyzing parts of the country, reports The Associated Press.In all, at least 73 people were dead, according to a body count taken by security officials after the operation and the ensuing violence. That figure includes security forces, suspected cartel members and others, the AP reports."El Mencho" was known to be the mastermind of a powerful group — the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The group is notorious for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the United States and staging brazen attacks against government officials who challenged it, notes AP.PHOTOS | Violence erupts in Mexico:What is Global Affairs Canada saying?Right now, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) is warning Canadians to exercise a high degree of caution in Mexico "due to high levels of criminal activity and kidnapping." Canadians in Mexico are being told to avoid all non-essential travel to numerous states "due to high levels of violence and organized crime," with GAC warning the security situation "could deteriorate rapidly" across the country.GAC notes there are shelter-in-place orders in Jalisco (including Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta) and Nayarit, and warn that "similar instructions, including curfews, may be issued on short notice in other areas of the country." Canadians in Mexico are being urged to keep a low profile, follow the advice of local authorities and keep an eye on the news, since the situation is rapidly evolving. "All Canadians in affected regions should heed the direction of local authorities and only travel … when it is safe to do so," Anand said. Are some areas more dangerous?The violence began in Jalisco state, where there's a shelter-in-place order, which includes the popular beach resort Puerto Vallarta.In Puerto Vallarta, frightened tourists posted on social media, describing the area as a "war zone" as plumes of dark smoke rose into the sky from around the bay. Canadians in the region have described a scary situation on the ground, saying they're hearing explosions and have scant information.GAC also warned there have been "security incidents" in other areas in the county, especially: Guerrero, including Acapulco; Michoacán; Sinaloa, including Mazatlán; Quintana Roo, including Cancun; Baja California, including Tijuana and Tecate; and Nayarit.WATCH | Shockwaves in Mexican cartels:Mike Vigil, former chief of international operations for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, says the Mexican military operation that killed the cartel leader known as 'El Mencho' will disrupt the flow of drugs into the U.S., at least temporarily, but his Jalisco New Generation Cartel is now using to violence to show authorities and rival cartels that they are still powerful. How many Canadians are in Mexico?Anand said Monday that 26,305 Canadians in Mexico have registered with GAC. But those numbers are estimates, based on a voluntary registry of Canadians abroad."We know the actual number of Canadians in Mexico is likely much higher," she said. Anand urged all Canadians in Mexico to register with GAC.The phone number to call to register if you're a Canadian in Mexico is: 613-996-8885.But Ian Thomson, an Ottawan who spends his winters near Guadalajara, says he's been registered with GAC in Mexico for years and hasn't heard a word from the government agency, and when he tried to call the local consulate Sunday, it was closed."None of our Canadian friends here who are also registered have heard," he told CBC News, while questioning the point of a consulate that's closed during an emergency. What about flights?The situation has led multiple Canadian airlines to cancel flights, with Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat, Porter and Flair Airlines suspending service in and out of Puerto Vallarta. Air Canada, WestJet and Air Transat have said they will resume scheduled flights on Tuesday.On Sunday, Air Canada posted on its website urging all of its customers in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta to remain at their hotel or current accommodations until further notice. On Monday, Air Canada told CBC News all flights to and from Puerto Vallarta remain cancelled."We are monitoring the situation and are working to bring our customers back as soon as it is safe to do so," a spokesperson said. People gather at the Guadalajara International Airport, as multiple flights are diverted or cancelled, in Tlajomulco de Zuniga, Jalisco, Mexico, on Sunday, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video and verified by Reuters. (Paco Villanueva/Reuters)WestJet on Sunday diverted seven flights en route to Puerto Vallarta, cancelled many more and had cancelled all flights there Monday."For guests currently in destination, WestJet and Sunwing are arranging extended stays so guests can comply with local official guidelines," the airline noted on its website. Air Transat confirmed that all its flights to and from Puerto Vallarta for Sunday and Monday are postponed. Flights elsewhere in Mexico are proceeding as scheduled, the airline wrote on its website.All Flair Airlines flights in and out of Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara are currently cancelled. Porter Airlines confirmed with CBC News its flights to Puerto Vallarta were cancelled for Sunday and Monday, but Cancun flights are operating normally."Because this situation is evolving, we are monitoring it and will consider further policy and schedule updates as needed," a spokesperson for Porter wrote to CBC News. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she expects flights to and from Puerto Vallarta to resume Monday or Tuesday, Reuters reports. Mexican airline Aeromexico will "gradually" resume flights to and from Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo and Tepic starting today, Reuters said. Air Transat confirmed with CBC News that it plans to resume its flights Tuesday.Late Monday, WestJet said it will also resume service on Tuesday to and from Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara and Manzanillo. Shortly after, Air Canada said it will resume its Puerto Vallarta flights on Tuesday and its Guadalajara flights on Wednesday. WATCH | Canada isn't sending planes to Mexico 'at this time,' says Anand:Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, who was asked Monday about communication with her Mexican counterpart amid a flare-up in violence following the death of a cartel leader, says Canada is not considering sending planes to Mexico at this time.Is there a plan to get Canadians home?Anand said Canada currently has no plans to send planes or the Canadian military to Mexico."We are preparing a plan to assist. We are not prepared at this point to provide any further details," she said. CBC News has reached out to affected airlines to ask if there's a plan to bring stranded passengers back to Canada, but so far has only heard back from Flair Airlines."Due to current travel advisories, we are not yet able to operate recovery flights and will resume service as soon as it is safe to do so," the airline said. CBC News has also reached out to Global Affairs Canada for clarity.Smoke billows amid a wave of violence, with torched vehicles and gunmen blocking highways in more than half a dozen states, following a military operation in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, on Sunday, in this screen grab obtained from a social media video verified by Reuters. (@morelifediares/Instagram/Reuters)What's happening now?Several Mexican states cancelled school on Monday, with local and foreign governments warning their citizens to stay inside after widespread violence erupted. Sheinbaum urged calm on Monday, and authorities said all of the more than 250 cartel roadblocks across 20 states had been cleared, reports The Associated Press. Martin McGrenere, a Canadian tourist in Puerto Vallarta says the situation is largely starting to return to normal. But while some people are stuck inside, out of food and supplies — as many continue to shelter in place — shops are largely closed."There's been nowhere to shop anyway. If you were to go out, everything is closed," McGrenere told CBC News Network this morning. The situation should stabilize in the coming days, and this is a targeted issue that will not continue, Anand said Monday.WATCH | Canadian in Puerto Vallarta says it's calmer Monday:The Mexican city of Puerto Vallarta is under a shelter in place order after cartel violence erupted in retaliation for the killing of a notorious drug lord. Canadian tourist Martin McGrenere says while he saw much of it unfold from the roof of his rented condo on Sunday, things are much quieter on Monday morning.What about in the resorts?The atmosphere inside the resorts is actually pretty calm since they're so isolated, says Covy Moore, 37, who is staying in a hotel just north of Puerto Vallarta with his girlfriend.And that's an "incredibly weird" and guilty feeling, Moore, who is from Airdrie, Alta., told CBC News."Folks here are reeling from an action against a criminal organization, and I am sipping a margarita on the beach while the sky behind me was smokey and black," he said.Covy Moore, right, and Michele Greer, left, of Airdrie, Alta., are pictured at the Mayan Palace hotel just north of Puerto Vallarta, on Sunday. (Submitted by Covy Moore)Moore and his girlfriend, Michele Greer, bought their trip through a charity auction, and opted out of the all-inclusive membership. The plan had been to buy groceries at Walmart on Sunday to save money, Moore said.It was when the resort told them they couldn't leave the hotel to access a taxi that they realized what was happening, Moore said. Now, they're relying on the resort's market for food, which is both overpriced and completely out of bread, eggs, and big water bottles, he added.Still, he said, "our inconvenience pales in comparison to what the locals must feel."They scheduled to fly home Saturday via Flair Airlines."We aren't worried about getting home unless things get way worse," Moore said.
