MEXICO CITY - A series of deadly shootings in the Mexican state of Guanajuato and the resort town of Tulum have resulted in multiple fatalities and raised concerns about the escalating violence in the region.

In Guanajuato, gunmen targeted a Christmas party in the town of Salvatierra early Sunday, leaving twelve people dead, according to state prosecutors. The victims were reportedly leaving a festive event when they were attacked. Additionally, four other individuals lost their lives in a separate shooting incident in the city of Salamanca, although details about the circumstances of the attack remain scarce.

These tragic incidents have prompted President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to call for the resignation of the state prosecutor in Guanajuato due to the state's persistently high levels of violence. Guanajuato has witnessed fierce battles between rival cartels, specifically between the Jalisco cartel and local gangs backed by the Sinaloa cartel. The state has consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous in Mexico, with a significant number of homicides.

Addressing the press on Monday, President López Obrador linked the surging violence in Guanajuato to the growing drug use prevalent in the central Mexican state, emphasizing the need for increased attention to tackle the issue. Disturbingly, between Thursday and Sunday, 40 murders were recorded in Guanajuato. Furthermore, President López Obrador revealed that the state also ranks high in terms of drug use within the country.

Meanwhile, in the Caribbean coast resort of Tulum, another shooting occurred at a local bar, resulting in the death of three men and leaving four others wounded. Quintana Roo state prosecutors indicated that the preliminary investigation suggests the shooting may have been related to a dispute over drug sales. However, they reassured the public and tourists that their safety was never at risk.

The fateful incident in Tulum serves as a grim reminder of previous cases where tourists have fallen victim to shootings between local drug gangs. In 2021, two tourists, including a California travel blogger of Indian origin and a German citizen, were killed while dining at a restaurant in Tulum, caught in the crossfire of a gunfight between rival drug dealers.

The U.S. State Department had previously issued a travel alert earlier this year, urging visitors to exercise heightened situational awareness, particularly after dark, in Mexico's popular Caribbean beach destinations like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum. The recent shooting in Tulum further highlights the importance of taking precautions while visiting certain areas in the country where criminal activities are prevalent.

These incidents of violence in Guanajuato and Tulum underscore the urgent need for increased security measures and a concerted effort to combat drug-related criminal activities. Authorities are challenged to address the deep-rooted issue of drug cartels and tackle the underlying causes of violence to restore peace and safety in the affected regions.