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Blue Parrot shooting: Gunfire at BPM music festival in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

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At least five people, including four foreigners, have been killed and 15 wounded after a shooter opened fire at a nightclub in Mexico's Playa del Carmen resort during the BPM electronic music festival.

Hundreds of people packed the Blue Parrot club in the resort town of Playa Del Carmen early on Monday morning, local time, when shots rang out. Footage on social media showed dozens of people fleeing from the club, some carrying injured friends as they ran down the street.

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Reports of a shooting in Mexican resort town

There are reports that at least four people have been killed in a shooting at a Mexican music festival in Playa del Carmen south of Cancun. Vision: Seven News

Quintana Roo State Attorney General Miguel Angel Pech told a press conference that two Canadians, an Italian and a Colombian were killed. A woman died in the stampede to exit the club. 

Mr Pech said the incident began when an armed person entered the Blue Parrot nightclub at 3am Monday local time, during the closing of the festival. Another person tried to stop the person, sparking a gunfight that drew in security staff.

Four people were arrested on suspicion of being involved in the incident.

Fifteen people were injured, he said, of whom 10 are still in hospital. The state government said in a statement that one person was in a grave condition. 

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The shooting represents a major blow to Mexico's tourism industry, which has been one of the few bright spots in the economy thanks to a weak peso exchange rate.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says it is making "urgent enquiries" to determine if any Australians were affected.

"We are overcome with grief over this senseless act of violence and we are cooperating fully with local law enforcement and government officials as they continue their investigation," BPM said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

Australian man Trent Cray was with a group of nine friends from Perth at the BPM Festival when the gunman started shooting at festival-goers.

Mr Cray posted on social media "OMG the whole club just got shot up!!!"

"We all had to get on floor and wait. The gunman ran around then everyone legged it. I filmed the whole thing. We all ok."

Nathan Hannah, a friend of Trent and also a finance broker from Perth, said he had already left the party when he saw his friends running.

"[They] told me that a gunman had rocked up," he said.

"I ran down the street trying to find the rest of the boys and there was a stampede of people everywhere."

Mr Pech said two of the dead were BPM security workers but the festival said in a statement that three members of their security team were killed.

On Monday night, a spokesperson for DFAT said the Australian Embassy in Mexico was working to find out if any Australians were involved.

"We are aware of reports of Australians in the area," the spokesperson said. "If you have any concerns for the welfare of family and friends in the region, you should attempt to contact them directly."

The shooting happened on the closing night of the BPM electronic music festival, where festivities at Blue Parrot were due to begin at 11pm and go to 6am.

Australian DJ Danny Chien, better known as Wax Motif, wrote on Twitter that he watched the incident unfold.

"It happened right in front of us. Still can't believe it was real," he said.

"We all jumped the fence to get out and saw at least 4 bodies down on the escape."

In one video filmed by a witness, a man shouts "gun, he's got a gun" as a group of people begin to run down a street.

Further videos show police arriving on the scene and blocking off a short street that leads to the club. Upbeat electronic music continues to play as medical teams wheel injured revellers into waiting ambulances on stretchers.

Numerous photos and videos published by local media show injured revellers bleeding profusely as they are helped by friends.

As dawn broke in Playa Del Carmen, heavily-armed police guarded the scene, which was blocked off by police tape.

The BPM festival, which was entering its 10th year, has grown to be one of the most important electronic music events in the world, with top DJs flying in every January to play the clubs of Playa del Carmen along Mexico's Caribbean coast.

Quintana Roo and the surrounding Yucatan peninsula have traditionally been less violent than other parts of Mexico, with relatively low murder rates. However, with many foreign tourists and a vibrant night life scene, there has long been an important local drug market in and around Playa Del Carmen.

In recent years, Mexico's Caribbean coast has drawn DJs and fans of electronic music to the beautiful, balmy region during the frigid European and North American winters.

Those who are unable to get in contact with friends and family in the area, who may hold concerns for their welfare, are urged to contact DFAT's 24-hour consular emergency centre on 1300 555 135, or +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas.

with Reuters

With Reuters