A Central Florida couple remains stranded in Mexico after violence broke out near their resort over the weekend, following the death of a powerful cartel leader.Wendee Parks and her husband traveled from their home in Viera to Puerto Vallarta for a family destination wedding. The celebration quickly turned frightening when the couple woke up on Sunday to smoke, reports of violence, and instructions to remain inside their resort.“We were supposed to fly out Sunday, but everything was shut down,” Parks said. “Nothing was happening or leaving.”Parks said the couple saw signs of a major security response in the area.“We saw Black Hawk helicopters going by. We saw military ships going into the bay,” she said.The couple was scheduled to return home to Orlando on Sunday, but those plans fell apart amid the unrest.“We were a little scared, panicked, I’m not going to lie,” she said. “It was like, ‘wow, is it moving closer?’ It was hard to tell. There was a charred bus less than a mile from here.”’Shelter in place’Late Sunday night, the U.S. Department of State issued a security alert after the killing of one of Mexico’s most powerful cartel leaders. The alert urged Americans in Puerto Vallarta and other areas to shelter in place, limit movement, and keep family and friends updated on their safety. According to Parks, the alert coincided with widespread flight cancellations and disruptions at the airport.“It was a little scary because there was gunfire outside the airport, and people were being told to go into the kitchen and get down,” she said.Mexican Consulate in OrlandoWESH 2 went to the Mexican Consulate in Orlando. Officials there said they could not comment on the situation and had not received any calls or reports related to it prior to the visit.Parks said the uncertainty over the past several days has been the hardest part of the experience. The couple is now booked on a flight home later Tuesday night.“Everyone is trying to get out,” Parks said. “Flights are now leaving.”The State Department says the security situation remains fluid in parts of Mexico and continues to urge Americans to limit travel, stay alert, and follow guidance from local authorities.
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. —
A Central Florida couple remains stranded in Mexico after violence broke out near their resort over the weekend, following the death of a powerful cartel leader.
Wendee Parks and her husband traveled from their home in Viera to Puerto Vallarta for a family destination wedding.
The celebration quickly turned frightening when the couple woke up on Sunday to smoke, reports of violence, and instructions to remain inside their resort.
“We were supposed to fly out Sunday, but everything was shut down,” Parks said. “Nothing was happening or leaving.”
Parks said the couple saw signs of a major security response in the area.
“We saw Black Hawk helicopters going by. We saw military ships going into the bay,” she said.
The couple was scheduled to return home to Orlando on Sunday, but those plans fell apart amid the unrest.
“We were a little scared, panicked, I’m not going to lie,” she said. “It was like, ‘wow, is it moving closer?’ It was hard to tell. There was a charred bus less than a mile from here.”
Marco Ugarte/AP via CNN
Vehicles drive past a charred bus the day after the Mexican army killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” in Guadalajara, Mexico, Monday, February 23.
‘Shelter in place’
Late Sunday night, the U.S. Department of State issued a security alert after the killing of one of Mexico’s most powerful cartel leaders. The alert urged Americans in Puerto Vallarta and other areas to shelter in place, limit movement, and keep family and friends updated on their safety.
According to Parks, the alert coincided with widespread flight cancellations and disruptions at the airport.
“It was a little scary because there was gunfire outside the airport, and people were being told to go into the kitchen and get down,” she said.
Mexican Consulate in Orlando
WESH 2 went to the Mexican Consulate in Orlando. Officials there said they could not comment on the situation and had not received any calls or reports related to it prior to the visit.
Parks said the uncertainty over the past several days has been the hardest part of the experience. The couple is now booked on a flight home later Tuesday night.
“Everyone is trying to get out,” Parks said. “Flights are now leaving.”
The State Department says the security situation remains fluid in parts of Mexico and continues to urge Americans to limit travel, stay alert, and follow guidance from local authorities.