Since Sunday Mexico is on fire and blood after drug lord El Mencho was shot dead by the Mexican army. The situation is particularly worrying near Puerto Vallarta, where there are two travelers from Sherbrooke and a Montrealer.
“I mostly saw smoke. I witnessed the navy providing security in front of our house. We saw a 45-footer explode, it caught fire right in our field of vision,” said Mélanie Caron.
Travelers and residents of Puerto Vallarta have all been instructed not to go outside their residences for an indefinite period of time.
Linda Lemire, traveler, violated the order.
“The owner wrote to me not to go out. I definitely went out. I went to the grocery store because I no longer had drinking water,” she explained.
Ms. Lemire filmed her exit. In the images shared with Noovo Info, we can see that the streets were completely deserted.
“I saw an army helicopter crisscrossing the coast very low. This morning [lundi] I saw the police traveling on the 200. I think we are correct, but I am stressed, I am worried,” shared Ms. Lemire.
Étienne Beaumier, a Montrealer, is also on vacation in Puerto Vallarta.
“We saw smoke, a car was set on fire. We were told not to go out,” he said, reporting that a lady had ignored the instructions and gone to the local Walmart.
“She was confined there. When the situation was a little more safethey let them out, but they just opened the gate a little thing, and the people came out. They said ‘go back home’,” he explained.
TO READ | Who was “El Mencho”, the leader of the gang that shook Mexico?
If Sunday was particularly violent, the three travelers agree that Monday was calmer.
“At the same time, it’s worrying that it’s quiet like this. We’re really into the action of the 200, here it’s usually super noisy. We are waiting for something, but we don’t know what,” underlined Mélanie Caron.
Étienne Beaumier indicates for his part that he has not received any news as to whether or not he could leave his place of accommodation.
“It’s quite calm in the streets,” he said, adding that he was still experiencing some stress since normally he would have to take the plane on Tuesday to return to Montreal.
The Government of Canada has issued an advisory to travelers in or going to Mexico strongly advising them to avoid non-essential travel to orange zones.
Air Transat, WestJet and Air Canada flights to this area are currently suspended, as are return flights.
See it in the video.
