Visitors from around the world have been sheltering in their Mexican hotel rooms as angry cartels seeking vengeance have attacked and set fire to businesses in tourists areas in response to the death of the country's most-wanted drug lord.

Multiple airlines also cancelled or redirected flights due to the violence, which has included gunfire in public areas.

The unrest broke out after Mexico's army killed the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, nicknamed "El Mencho," in an operation on Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco, about a two-hour drive southwest of Guadalajara. He was initially wounded, but died en route to hospital.

Mexico's security minister, Garcia Harfuch, said 25 members of the country's National Guard were killed in the operation, along with 30 criminal suspects. Armored vehicles, rocket launchers and other arms were seized.

El Mencho was a founder and current leader of the CJNG cartel, and the US had issued a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his capture.

Mexican defence minister Ricardo Trevilla said information was provided by a "romantic partner" of the drug lord, which helped the military locate him.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement on Sunday that the US had "provided intelligence support to the Mexican government in order to assist with (the) operation".

"President Trump has been very clear — the United States will ensure narcoterrorists sending deadly drugs to our homeland are forced to face the wrath of justice they have long deserved," Leavitt said.

She said the Trump administration "commends and thanks the Mexican military for their cooperation and successful execution of this operation."

CJNG has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration, and has been connected with trafficking drugs such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as kidnappings and murder, including of rival gang members and government officials.

After El Mencho's death, cartel members set up more than 250 roadblocks, burned cars and engaged in shootouts.

The Chinese Embassy in Mexico reminded Chinese citizens in the country to stay alert to the local security situation. It said that the Chinese Embassy and consulates in Mexico are closely monitoring affected areas and reminded Chinese citizens to remain highly vigilant, pay close attention to notices and announcements issued by local government authorities, and strictly comply with them. In the event of an emergency, Chinese citizens were reminded to promptly call local police and contact the Chinese Embassy or consulate in Mexico as appropriate.

Videos released online showed people running in Guadalajara International Airport, many dropping their bags and taking cover behind flight desks to protect themselves from chaos at the terminal.

Airlines including Delta, American, Alaska and Air Canada suspended or diverted flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara airports.

"We are monitoring the situation and in contact with local authorities who are working to resolve the issue," Air Canada posted on X.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum applauded the country's security forces and called for calm. While she remains popular in the country, she has been under pressure from the Trump administration to show results against drug trafficking.

Jalisco Governor Pablos Lemus Navarro activated an emergency "code red" in response to the violence, suspended public transportation across the state of Jalisco and urged people to stay home.

Jim Beck, a Minnesotan who has been going to Puerto Vallarta for more than 20 years, told NBC News that he has always felt safe in the city, until Sunday morning.

"Today, everybody was running down the streets in panic and terror as cars were blowing up all over the place," he said.

He and his partner went out for breakfast but encountered taxis and a bus that had been blown up and were blocking the street. They hurried back to the hotel, he told NBC News, and with other hotel guests watched the unrest from the rooftop.

"There was probably 20 of the different little businesses around us that we've had to watch, unfortunately, the flames and then the smoke go in the air and see this beautiful little downtown romantic zone going up in smoke. It's just been so sad," he said.

Cartel will find ways to survive

Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, a professor in the Schar School of Policy and Government, said that this was not the first time the leader of a cartel has been killed, arrested or extradited.

"This is part of the US strategy that has been applied in different Latin American countries, particularly in Mexico," said Correa-Cabrera, who is also co-director of the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center at George Mason University.

"The Jalisco Cartel, for example, is a very important criminal organization that does not have a single, critical leader," she said. "Leadership is fragmented: the cells have different leaders and political protection at the local level, which allows them to perpetuate various types of criminal activity."

"We have seen this with other organizations, like the Sinaloa Cartel. Arrests or extraditions don't destroy the organization; family members or successors usually step in," she said.

"The root of the problem isn't the individual leader, it's the demand for drugs and the structure of the organization. We are not dealing with the financial or political protection structures, or corruption at official levels — just with individuals, who are replaceable. So, while such events may appear dramatic, they don't fundamentally dismantle the organization."