An Irish woman living in Mexico has said the country is facing a "very violent week" in the wake of the killing of cartel boss Nemesio Oseguera, alias "El Mencho", in a military operation in Jalisco yesterday.
At least 25 members of the Mexican National Guard and one security guard have been killed in cartel attacks since his killing.
Evangeline O’Regan has been living in Mexico since 2019 and currently lives with her family in Morelia in the state of Michoacan, which borders Jalisco. She is originally from Athlone in Co Westmeath.
Speaking on RTÉ's Liveline, Ms O’Regan said the cartel maintains a heavy presence in Michoacan.
She said the cartel blocked roads yesterday by burning vehicles in the city of Morelia.
"What the cartel wanted to do yesterday was to create terror. That’s what they do," she said.
Ms O’Regan said she and her young children were asked to leave a church service yesterday due to the deteriorating security situation.
"All social events were cancelled yesterday and there is an unofficial curfew," she said, adding that all schools were closed today. "We’re just staying home. That’s the safe thing to do," she said.
"People are scared right now... especially because things might get messier and uglier before they get calm again.
"I think we are facing, probably a very violent week, because things have to reshuffle within the cartel."
Ms O’Regan said that El Mencho was probably the "biggest narco" at large in Mexico before his killing.
"This guy was not a young narco, he lead the most powerful [cartel], after the cartel of Sinaloa."
The cartel leader had a $15 million (€12.7 million) US bounty on his head.
She said El Mencho's cartel, the CJNG, had diversified businesses and is present not only in different states in Mexico but "up to 40 countries in the world".
"What we’re seeing is who is going to be in charge...they want to create terror to make the civilians believe they are in charge and not the government."
Ms O’Regan said the presence of cartels and the drug trade are "part of daily life in Mexico".
"We live among the chaos. Violence doesn’t usually affect normal people...people who are just minding their own business."
Ms O’Regan said her daughter was looking forward to going to her friend’s birthday party yesterday afternoon when the situation deteriorated and all social events were cancelled.
She said she and her family are planning on staying at home, keeping a low profile and avoiding unnecessary movements this week.
"There’s no point to be on the roads and exposing yourself."
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DFA urges 'high degree of caution' in travel to Mexico
Irish citizens are being advised that they should not travel to parts of Mexico amid widespread violence following the killing of the cartel leader.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said Irish citizens are advised against travel to Jalisco, including Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara, due to ongoing security operations.
"Irish citizens already in Jalisco or in any other affected area should shelter in place, avoid unnecessary movement, and follow the direction of the local authorities," it added.
Four soccer games in Mexico were postponed after violence flared near Guadalajara, the host city for a potential Republic of Ireland versus South Korea World Cup clash later this year.
Shelter in place
The US State Department has also urged American citizens in parts of Mexico to shelter in place amid violence, road blocks and flight cancellations.
"Due to ongoing, widespread security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity in many areas of Mexico, US citizens should shelter in 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 cancelled in both Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta," it said.
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".
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Several US and Canadian airlines cancelled flights to parts of Mexico following the unrest.
Some planes had to turn back while already en route to Mexico, several airlines said, including Southwest, which turned back four flights originally bound for Puerto Vallarta.
Southwest said it would send aircraft to Mexico to repatriate its stranded passengers and staff once the situation normalises.
'Heed local advice'
The president of the Irish Travel Agents Association, Tom Randles, has advised anyone who may be in affected areas in Mexico to "remain indoors" and "heed local advice".
However, Mr Randles said the state of Jalisco is not an area that Irish tourists often travel to.
"The Irish tend to stay on the eastern side in Cancun. Cancun is approximately 2,000km away, about a three-hour flight, the equivalent of about Dublin to Malaga in distance," he told RTÉ's News at One.
Mr Randles said the ITAA has reached out to all its members and there are "currently no reports of anyone holidaying in the affected region".
"But if there is someone who maybe booked direct… heed local advice, to remain indoors, keep the phones fully charged, watch out for advice from local authorities and be in constant communication with the Department of Transport," he added.
Additional reporting AFP
