How safe is your city? Pretty safe, or we’ll need safety precautions? Whatever! Most cities in the world are either noted for how beautiful they are or some other trait that make it unique. But however, certain cities aren’t only known for how amazing they are, but also seen as a place of crime, violence and debauchery. With that said, here are the world’s top ten most dangerous cities — and, well, be careful if you’d ever visit ‘em.
Related media: 10 Most Dangerous Cities In The World
#10. Cali, Columbia
City: Santiago de Cali; Location: Colombia, South America;
Population: approx. 2.4 million; with a murder rate of 64 kills per 100,000.
This is the first Colombian city on this list, and not the last, which is also famous for smuggling drugs. The city is also full of gang violence despite so many measures. These violence are blamed on two paramilitary gangs, Los Rastrojos and Los Urabeño — both of which are heavily involved with trafficking huge amount of Colombia’s powder, cocaine. There has been decades of gang violence between guerrilla forces and the government.
Cali ranks as the 10th most dangerous city in the world.
#9. Cape Town, South Africa
City: Cape Town; Location: South Africa, Africa;
Population: approx. 3.7 million; with a murder rate of 65 kills per 100,000.
This is the only African city to make this list. South Africa is well-known for acts of xenophobia, and has made gang violence like assault, burglary, carjackings, and muggings very common on the streets. Much of these crimes are targeted on locals, but tourists should be extra careful in the city. There were a total of 2,451 homicide cases in 2015, making Cape Town the most dangerous city in Africa.
Cape Town ranks as the 9th most dangerous city in the world.
#8. Palmira, Columbia
City: Palmira; Location: Colombia, South America;
Population: approx. 350,000; murder rate of 70 kills per 100,000.
Here’s the first Colombian city on this list, and it’s not the last. Known as the crime capital of Colombia, there has been several cases of extortion, kidnappings, and murder within the past years. Drug cartels and paramilitary often adapt the Mexican drug cartel Sinaloa-style by attracting less attention. The government in recent decades has had numerous crackdowns on cartels, and has seen much progress lately.
Palmira ranks as the 8th most dangerous city in the world.
#7. València, Venezuela
City: València; Location: Venezuela, South America;
Population: approx. 1 million; murder rate of 72 kills per 100,000.
This is the third and last Venezuelan city on this list. The city is known for gang violence leading to a lot of murders. Gang activity is so rampant that there has been numerous sitings of mob attacks and lynching by several vigilante groups who’ve taken measures in they’re own terms since the local police can’t do much to combat crime. Many criminals have been burnt alive with gasoline in recent years.
Valencia ranks as the 7th most dangerous city in the world.
#6. Maturín, Venezuela
City: Maturín; Location: Venezuela, South America;
Population: approx. 401,384; murder rate of 86 kills per 100,000.
This is the second Venezuelan city on this list. The city was badly hit by the country’s economic crisis with has given rise to crime. The city is located in the transport hub of most drug cartels. There has also been several kidnappings in the city; and according to Trip Advisor, tourist should be extra vigilant if they should venture into Maturin as kidnappings can and do occur.
Maturin ranks as the 6th most dangerous city in the world.
#5. Distrito Central, Honduras
City: Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela; Location: Honduras, North America;
Population: approx. 1.2 million; murder rate of 90 kills per 100,000.
Distrito Central is the second Honduran place on this list. The twin cities of Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela are like brothers in crime. The cities are raid with gang violence. The US Department of State advices tourists to be extra aware of high rates of crime, noting that they are not safe havens for western tourists. However, violence isn’t that bad, around 620 murders happened in Distrito Central.
Distrito Central ranks as the 5th most dangerous city in the world.
#4. Acapulco, Mexico
City: Acapulco de Juárez; Location: Mexico, North America;
Population: approx. 687,000; murder rate of 104 kills per 100,000.
Its no surprise this Mexican city made this list. Famed for it’s resorts and beaches, this small city has had it’s own share of gang warfare. There were about 461 citizens killed in early 2016. The city in times past was flocked with celebrities and tourists, but its own state Guerrero is home to about 60 percent of it’s people living in poverty. The city often sees murder in broad daylight — with at least 12 murders each day.
Acapulco ranks as the 4th most dangerous city in the world.
#3. San Salvador, El Salvador
City: San Salvador; Location: El Salvador, North America;
Population: approx. 1.8 million; murder rate of 108 kills per 100,000.
This is the largest city of El Salvador, and it’s a hotspot of violent crime. Much of the crime is carried out by gangs which include arms and drug trafficking, carjackings, extortion, hitman assassins, robberies, and muggings of tourists. Murder in the city are often extrajudicial executions, done by the Sombra Negra death squard. In a 2016 poll, 2.4 percent of Salvadorans confess they’ve been a victim of crime.
San Salvador ranks as the 3rd most dangerous city in the world.
#2. San Pedro Sula, Honduras
City: San Pedro Sula; Location: Honduras, North America;
Population: approx. 719,063; murder rate of 111 kills per 100,000.
This is Honduras’ second largest city, but first on crime. It is one of the poorest places in Latin America often devastated by natural disasters and economic crisis, the city has been a hub of crime for several years. It was once the murder capital of the world with 187 kills per 100,000 in 2013. The city is awash with arms and drug trafficking by street gangs, many of which were deported from the United States for gang crimes.
San Pedro ranks as the 2nd most dangerous city in the world.
#1. Caracas, Venezuela
City: Santiago de León de Caracas; Location: Venezuela, South America;
Population: approx. 3.3 million; murder rate of 130 kills per 100,000.
The Venezuelan capital is the first on this list, and it’s not the only one. This city is home to some of the meanest slums in the world, labelled as absolute “no-go” areas for tourists. It has the highest murder rate in the world, with 4,308 homicides in 2016, with most cases left unsolved. High unemployment rates has risen gang crimes in recent times. These gangs are involved in all vices, such as drug trafficking, extortion, hijacking, kidnapping, robbery, and of course, murder.
A Time magazine reporter from a Caracas morgue said: “Every half hour or so, ambulances arrive with copses, the vast majority of them homicide victims.”
Caracas ranks as the most dangerous city in the world.
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Written by: Nana Kwadwo, Sat, Nov 28, 2020.