Three civilians died during a confrontation between the army and armed civilians, according to the Sinaloa state public security department. Additionally, two more homicides were reported, though their connection to the cartel violence remains unclear.
On Friday night, five people were killed in the town of Concordia, a site of ongoing gang violence, according to the state's attorney general. Since Monday, 15 deaths have been linked to cartel fighting, and 20 cases of suspected forced disappearances are under investigation.
Estefania, 27, from the state capital Culiacan, described the fear gripping her family, saying her aunt is keeping her cousins indoors to avoid recruitment by criminals.
The violence has intensified since the July 25 arrest of Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada in the U.S. Zambada, who claimed he was abducted in Mexico, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of El Chapo, were detained. The fighting is reportedly between factions loyal to El Chapo and those aligned with Zambada.
In response to the escalating violence, schools were closed Thursday and Friday, and Sunday's Independence Day celebrations have been canceled. The U.S. issued a security alert due to reports of car thefts, gunfire, and roadblocks in Culiacan.
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