32 bodies found in clandestine graves in Mexico

Authorities in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato have discovered 32 bodies buried in clandestine graves on a property in the municipality of Irapuato, according to a statement released Monday by the state prosecutor’s office.

The graves were uncovered in the community of La Calera, located on the northern outskirts of Irapuato, about 320 kilometers (200 miles) northwest of Mexico City. Forensic teams have been working at the site since July 30, and officials said that nearly half of the victims have already been identified. Efforts are ongoing to confirm the identities of the remaining bodies.

The grim discovery comes less than two months after a mass shooting at a street party in Irapuato claimed the lives of 12 people, highlighting the city’s ongoing struggle with violence.

Guanajuato has become one of Mexico’s most violent states in recent years, as rival criminal groups—including the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the local Santa Rosa de Lima cartel—compete for control of territory. From January to July of this year alone, the state recorded over 1,500 homicides.

Clandestine graves are a common method used by organized crime groups to dispose of victims in Mexico. The country’s official list of missing persons currently includes nearly 132,000 individuals.