The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a travel warning after a state of emergency was declared in parts of Belize. The travel advice was updated on Tuesday, May 12, into Wednesday, May 13, 2026, citing new information about a state of emergency now in place in specific regions within Belize City and the Belize District.
State of Emergency Details
The Government of Belize has announced a 30-day state of emergency covering several areas. The FCDO stated: "This was implemented in response to a surge in gang-related violence and grants law enforcement expanded powers to restore order and ensure public safety in affected communities." Travelers are advised to stay away from these areas and follow the advice of local authorities.
Affected Areas
The state of emergency applies to the following locations:
- Southside and parts of Northside in Belize City
- Belize Rural
- Ladyville Village
- Burrell Boom Village
- Fresh Pound Community
- Buttercup Estates
- Bermudian Landing Village
- Lemonal Village
- Isabella Bank
- Rancho Dolores Village
- Double Head Cabbage Village
Background to the Emergency
The Belize Government issued a proclamation declaring a state of public emergency in these areas. Paul Lopez, a Belize journalist, explained: "Over the weekend, the Government of Belize declared a State of Emergency in Southside and Northside Belize City and Certain Parts of the Belize District." The decision followed a violent chain reaction that escalated in just days. On May 5, well-known figures Hubert Baptist and Eric Frazer were ambushed by heavy gunfire along the Philip Goldson Highway; both survived. Days later, 29-year-old Jamal Samuels was killed in what police say was a retaliatory hit. Earlier that same evening, a 16-year-old walked into a bar on that same highway and gunned down a 34-year-old mother of three. These incidents are part of a steady drumbeat of shootings and murders that have gripped Belize City in recent weeks, prompting the government's drastic move.
The FCDO continues to monitor the situation and advises all UK travelers to exercise caution, avoid the affected areas, and follow local security instructions.
