Mexico has descended into chaos following the reported killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as El Mencho, the most-wanted leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

In the hours after news of his death spread, cartel factions launched a sweeping and violent retaliation across large parts of Mexico. Witnesses described scenes resembling a war zone: buses and taxis set ablaze, pharmacies and businesses torched, highways blocked with burning vehicles, and armed men roaming streets in broad daylight.

American tourists caught in the unrest say popular destinations turned dangerous almost instantly. Some reported explosions near transit routes, others described sheltering inside hotels as gunfire echoed nearby and smoke filled the streets. With roads shut down and flights suspended in several regions, many travelers remain stranded, unsure when it will be safe to leave.

Local authorities say the violence appears coordinated and intended to overwhelm security forces while sending a message after the cartel leader’s death. Emergency services have been stretched thin as officials work to restore order and protect civilians amid continuing threats.

What was once marketed as paradise for millions of visitors is now a landscape of fear, uncertainty, and burning wreckage — underscoring how quickly cartel power struggles can upend daily life and international travel.