A band of gunmen invaded a resort and opened fire where dozens of vacationers were spending the weekend in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato – considered the country’s most violent region. Authorities said six adults and a child were killed, and another was seriously wounded.

No Canadians were reported to be involved in the late afternoon attack Saturday at the La Palma resort; Central Mexico is not a traditional destination for Canadians, who mostly visit the east or west coasts, although snowbirds are attracted to cities like San Miguel Allende, located about an hour from the attacks.

Last summer, tourism officials from the state visited Canada to talk up tourism to the region as an alternative to more traditional destinations like Cancun and Puerto Vallarta.

Officials in the Cortazar municipality did not speculate on a possible motive, but said the attackers targeted a group of people and started firing, then proceeded to remove the security cameras before leaving the scene.

A witness at the location captured a video posted on the local news site.

The footage showed victims lying on the ground or chairs, surrounded by dense smoke, presumably from the gunfire. Meanwhile, others ran for shelter.

After the shooting, the attackers destroyed the spa shop and took the security cameras before fleeing, officials said. Three women, three men and a seven-year-old died.

A video posted on social media shows several people in swimsuits running about crying, screaming, and hugging their children.

Mexican soldiers and police aided by a helicopter were searching for the attackers.

Guanajuato, an agricultural and industrial hub, has been Mexico’s most violent state for years. The Jalisco New Generation drug cartel has been fighting with local criminal groups, including the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel, which is apparently backed by the Sinaloa cartel.