Worsening Sinaloa Cartel war paralyzes life in Mexican city

A firefighter responds to the scene of a burned delivery truck amid a wave of violence between armed groups, in Culiacan, Mexico, September 11, 2024. REUTERS/Jesus Bustamante

CULIACAN, Mexico (Reuters) - Authorities in the western Mexican state of Sinaloa on Thursday canceled national day celebrations and shut schools on the back of escalating violence stemming from internal Sinaloa Cartel fighting, which has left 12 people dead since Monday.

Shootouts, the sound of gunfire and burnt out vehicles has become a common sight in the state capital Culiacan, a city of nearly 1 million people. Videos posted on social media show convoys of heavily armed gunmen driving down major thoroughfares in Sinaloa, where many businesses have also had to close.