British Colombians in Mazatlan say things are slowly returning to normal after violence erupted on Thursday following the arrest of a high-profile cartel leader.
Tourists and residents in the popular vacation hub were urged to stay off the roads amid gunfire and fighting in Sinaloa state, and travelers are still being urged to remain vigilant.
Most of the violence was concentrated in the city of Culiacan, about 2.5 hours away, but travelers Global News reported black smoke and trucks burning in the Mazatlán region as well.
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The Government of Canada’s travel advisory for the entire province remained in effect on Friday. People present on the spot say that after this the situation has become calm.
“My stress level or fear level is pretty flat at zero. For me, it hasn’t affected our life at all,” Harry Chandler of Vancouver, who has lived on and off in Mexico for the past 16 years, told Global News told.
“People are going about their business. There was a period yesterday when the government, which has apparently given up on being able to control anything… basically threw up its hands and said everyone should stay home. Apparently you take it a little too seriously.
Chandler said there were no reports of injuries in Mazatlan, and that locals were returning to work as usual on Friday.
Dominique Carol Maraj, who moved to Mazatlan from B.C. and operates a Facebook page for migrants in the city, said the mood had changed since Thursday when people followed the government’s directive to stay home .
“Today the roads are fine and everyone is driving again,” she said.
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While Thursday’s incident made international headlines, Maraj said that on a day-to-day basis, the city is no more dangerous than downtown Vancouver.
“We chose Mazatlan specifically because it is a very safe area, and we are very well taken care of. I have a two-year-old, a four-year-old and an eight-year-old and I’m here myself with the kids for parts of the year, and I would even say that sometimes I feel safe here.”
Darryl Wendland of Chilliwack said that while life in the city was beginning to return to normal, there was still a sense of unease.
“Things are very quiet here. People are very nervous,” he said.
“It is very nerve-wracking when you see a pickup truck with four armed soldiers in the box of the truck. But now, what’s going on, those people are definitely the target of the cartel. That’s why you should stay away from danger as much as possible.”
Wendland is scheduled to fly home on the 14th, and said he is watching closely to see if his travel will be affected.
Local airport authority OMA reported, and the federal government confirmed, that airports in Culiacan and Mazatlan resumed operations at 10 a.m. local time, although several flights from Canada were still canceled or delayed on Friday.
Claire Newell with Travel Best Bets said the situation on the ground remained “very fluid”, and urged anyone with travel plans to stay in close contact with their travel provider.
“If you are scheduled to leave within the next 24-48 hours, regardless of where you are across Canada, you need to make sure your information is current with both the airline and tour operator you booked with So they can get a hold of you, that means your current cell phone and email so they can contact you,” she said.
He also urged Canadians visiting Sinaloa to heed the federal government’s travel advice closely.
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The federal government has already been advising Canadians in Sinaloa to shelter in place and limit their movements, as well as avoid large gatherings and demonstrations.
Canadians in Sinaloa are also being urged to sign up with the Canada Abroad registration database, and to reach out to Global Affairs Canada or the Canadian Embassy in Mexico if they need emergency assistance.
Thursday’s violence erupted after security forces arrested alleged drug trafficker Ovidio Guzmán, the son of former cartel boss Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán.
At least 30 people were killed in a shootout between Mexican security forces and suspected members of the Sinaloa drug cartel near Culiacan and that city’s airport, officials said Friday.
— With files from Sean Boynton
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