Mexican Drug Cartel Attacks: 11 Towns Left Without Power In Michoacan State After Gunmen Torch Power Plants

A Mexican drug cartel blew up nine electrical power plants in the Mexican state of Michoacan, the LA Times reports. The explosions created state-wide blackouts that allowed gunmen to torch gasoline stations. The attacks took place just west of Morelia, the state's capital: no serious injuries or fatalities have been reported. Shortly after midnight on Sunday morning, the assailants armed with Molotov cocktails launched a simultaneous attack on power stations in nine different cities around the state. At least 1 million people were left without power for 15 hours. The perpetrators then torched four gasoline stations.

The Mexican drug cartel attack is a pertinent reminder of the power that these gangs still hold in the country. Michoacan has been under the rule of either the Knights Templar or its predecessor, La Familia, for decades. The two cartels specialized in methamphetamines which are exported to the US. The Secretary of Energy, Pedro Joaquín Coldwell, assured that they would be reinforcing all security measures in power stations and Pemex stations across the state. "These are absolutely reproachable acts," Coldwell said, "because they represent an attack against our country, our public electricity company and against the service provided to millions of users in Michoacan."

Authortities have been working hard to restor power across the state: 60 percent of residents now have power restored. The towns affected by the attack were Buenavista, Tepalcatepec, Apatzingán, Aguililla, Uruapan, Ciudad Hidalgo, Zamora, Tuxpan, Sahuayo, La Piedad and Zinapécuaro, while in Morelia, authorities reported that 18 water wells were affected. Six gasoline stations have now been reported damaged.