Global Affairs Canada says 26,305 Canadians are registered in Mexico—sheltering in place amid an ongoing security situation.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Annand says they are preparing a plan to assist but are not prepared at this point to provide details.  She says the federal government has been in very close contact with the airlines which brought thousands of Canadians home from Cuba after Cuban airports started running out of fuel.

Sunday, the Mexican army killed the leader of a major drug cartel during a security operation in western Mexico. The man known as “El Mencho” was the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Following reports of El Mencho’s death, violence and unrest spread across multiple Mexican states with vehicles and buildings set ablaze.

Canadians in Mexico are being told to register with Global Affairs Canada to receive updated and accurate information.

Bonnie Ferguson-Smith, originally from Moose Jaw but now a longtime resident of Calgary, was getting ready to wrap up a month in Mexico when violence broke out in several areas across the country, sparked reportedly by the attempted capture of a cartel boss, who was killed in the process.

She says, “I noticed 11 o’clock yesterday morning everyone started closing their doors. Everything was like shooing everybody out and everyone was rushing down the street.”

According to local media reports Puerto Vallarta residents are referring to it as “Black Sunday” with unrest continuing through the night including arson and vandalism targeting local businesses in addition to reports of looting.

Ferguson-Smith is in Sayulita which is about 45 minutes from the Puerto Vallarta Airport. She is with her 4-year-old granddaughter and 7-week-old grandson as well as her son and daughter-in-law.

She says they haven’t experienced the kind of unrest seen in Puerto Vallarta and residents are continuing with regular life but very low key.

“It’s very quiet and it’s really kind of a party place and with the baby here there’s been times I’ve said I wish it was a little quieter here.  Now that we’ve got our wish, I wish it was a little noisier, you know?”

There are no international flights out of the Puerto Vallarta airport Monday. WestJet advised travellers to check the status of their flight and that they had implemented their flexible/change policy for guests flying from Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara and Manzanillo for the next two days.