A North Bay woman caught up in the unrest in western Mexico says she is safe but confined to her resort complex near Puerto Vallarta, describing a “total lockdown” with businesses closed and no taxis running

A North Bay woman, trapped by the violence in Mexico, has confirmed on Facebook that she is safe.

Marilyn Boyle is about 40 minutes out of Puerto Vallarta.

“We are safe, in total lockdown tho. Everything is closed. No taxi, no stores open, told to stay in our complex,” she posted.

See: Canadians taking cover after outbreak of violence in Mexican state of Jalisco

Local travel agent Chris Mayne says he’s not aware of anybody else from North Bay in that area of Mexico, although two couples returned Saturday.

“They had a wonderful holiday, and they got out literally one day before all hell broke loose,” Mayne told BayToday. “So they really weren’t aware of the issues until they actually got home. They were fine. Right now, we don’t have anybody specifically in Puerto Vallarta, and that’s where all the flights have been cancelled to for the next three days.”

Mayne says some of the airlines are allowing people heading for that area to rebook to another destination in the next few days.

“So even if you’re looking to go to Cancun and you’re always about going there, and you want to rebook, some of the airlines are allowing people to change their plans, but subject to whatever the price is to go to a new destination. People have been calling in who have arrangements booked to Mexico, probably for the next month or two months, asking just how safe it is to go to the Mayan Riviera, Huatulco, or other areas in Mexico. So far, everything we’ve heard is that the concerns are in the immediate Puerto Vallarta area. The hope is that it will be short-lived, that they’re not going to turn this into a protracted fight.”

Another woman, from London, named Jane Atkinson, writes on Facebook, “We wake up on a lazy Sunday morning in Puerto Vallarta, and there’s a smoke smell in the air. Overnight, the cartel’s big boss has been captured, and the cartel is blocking roads and lighting car and bus fires all over Puerto Vallarta and other cities to try and get him back.

“All the vendors we’d normally see on the beach are eerily absent. Early into the day, the beach clears, and there’s not a soul in sight. So strange for a Sunday.

“The minute someone says he’s dead, the game changes, and we all feel a sense of dread. Our family vacation (with my husband, his sisters and nephew) turns into a nightmare. Now, out in the city there are corner stores, retail chains and Costco’s on fire. My sister-in-law suffers from COPD, and she’s having a very bad breathing day.

“We get word we are meant to shelter in place and start assembling family to head up to our rooms, and are standing by the pool gathering our belongings when a panic ensues.

“Someone screamed, the next thing we know, there are mothers scooping kids from the pools and people running in panic. Someone from the outside said there was shooting in the street.

“After the mayhem, we gather in our room (7 of us, with a few friends) and wait to see if we get the all clear. Military boat out at the beach – gigantic gun on board – does not bring much peace.

“Sister-in-law decides to head to her room and isn’t gone 5 minutes when we all get a text, ‘fire by the pool. ‘ Holy crap, we all think it’s the cartel. They come around evacuating us from the rooms now due to the fire. The other sister thinks it’s the cartel banging on her hotel room door – so scary.

“Smoke is now billowing from the building, and people start panicking again. Plus, popping sounds coming from the alley, people think it’s gunfire. Turns out it’s an air conditioner that is on fire. Of all the days for that to happen!!

“After a brief time in the lobby, the fire was out, and we returned to shelter in place. We are bracing for the nighttime, not sure what is to come. The idea that our hotel would somehow be targeted seems unlikely…. but this is a very frightening, very fluid situation.”

Government officials in western Mexico warn that Jalisco State, which includes the popular resort city of Puerto Vallarta, is currently unsafe for travel.

Global Affairs Canada issued a warning to Canadians in the region to stay indoors, keep a low profile, and follow the instructions from local authorities.