Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – On February 22, 2026, violent retaliation erupted across the city after the Mexican military confirmed the killing of CJNG leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes.
Two clips recorded from the streets capture the unfolding chaos.
The first, lasting about eight seconds, shows at least two vehicles burning on a main road. Thick black smoke pours into the air as flames climb from the tires and interiors. The camera moves shakily across the blocked roadway, revealing scattered debris and a few halted cars in the distance. Palm trees and nearby buildings are partially hidden behind the smoke. No security forces are visible.
The second clip, approximately 29 seconds long, reveals a broader scene. Several more cars and a truck are fully engulfed along the roadside. Heavy plumes of dark smoke rise into a clear sky. Roads are completely obstructed by burning barricades and abandoned vehicles.
The unsteady footage shows drivers turning around or leaving their cars behind. Sidewalks appear empty. The only sounds are the crackling flames and distant sirens, underscoring the absence of army or National Guard troops at the scene.
The caption reflects the desperation of the moment: “Puerto Vallarta under war… Help. Where is the army? The National Guard?”
The recordings became some of the earliest widely shared images of the narcobloqueos that paralyzed the resort city for hours, with burned vehicles blocking major avenues, highway closures, and panic at the airport as events unfolded on February 22, 2026.
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