Two Canadians have died in Mexico, Global Affairs has confirmed.
The federal department has released little information about the deaths citing “privacy considerations.” Mexican media are reporting two Canadian tourists were found dead in an apartment on the country’s west coast.
“Global Affairs Canada is aware of the deaths of two Canadians in Mexico,” spokesperson Charlotte MacLeod said in a statement to The Epoch Times.
“Consular officials are providing consular assistance and are in contact with local authorities to obtain additional information.”
The agency declined to disclose any further information at this time.
Mexican news outlets are also reporting that a third Canadian, a woman in her 60s, was sent to hospital in critical condition.
The woman was found in the same Mazatlán apartment as the two Canadians, prompting an investigation by police, Mexican news outlet El Universal is reporting.
Mazatlán residents called police after noticing the Canadian tourists had not been seen out and about last week. Police found two people deceased in their beds in separate rooms, the outlet said. Police told the media both bodies showed signs of decomposition and no visible signs of violence.
Authorities have yet to reveal the cause of the Canadians’ deaths.
Mazatlan lies on the western coast of mainland Mexico, east of the southern tip of Baja California on the opposite side of the gulf. The area is known for its beaches, fishing, and historical buildings. Tourism is one of the primary economic drivers of the city that is home to more than 380,000.
News of the deaths comes a year after Canadian resident Gabriele Schart was killed in a shooting in Zipolite, a resort area on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Schart and a friend were shot outside a convenience store during an alleged hold-up last March, police said. The perpetrators allegedly shot the pair after forcing them to hand over their belongings. Schart died on scene and the second victim was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound to the arm.
Schart had lived in Mexico for several years and was on her way back to Canada at the time of the shooting, her son said. Her planned return was prompted by her desire to provide care for her aging mother.
