It’s now easier than ever to visit distant locations around
the world. Some places, however, are best avoided due to dangerous conditions.
Certain dangerous places, on the other hand, are also desirable tourist
destinations. If you do decide to visit such places, you should at least be
aware of the risks and take sensible precautions. Here, in descending order,
are the 10 most dangerous cities in the world.
10. Caracas, Venezuela
This is the capital city of Venezuela and it is presently
facing a crisis involving drug gangs. Street crimes such as muggings and theft
are also common, making this an undesirable destination for most tourists. Many
other cities in Venezuela also have high crime rates.
9. Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
Mexico’s problems with drug traffickers are well known and
Ciudad Juarez is one of the nation’s most violent cities right now. Police are
often employed or paid off by drug gangs, which means that many crimes go
unpunished.
8. Cape Town, South Africa
Due to the prevalence of poverty and social unrest in this
city, it is suffering from an extremely high crime rate. Although many tourists
are drawn to South Africa because of its natural beauty and proximity to nature
preserves and other attractions, Cape Town can be a dangerous place. It is
possible to enjoy a visit to this city if you avoid the more dangerous sections
and don’t travel alone at night.
7. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Many cities in Brazil have very high crime rates, and some
are more dangerous than Rio de Janeiro. Yet since Rio is by far the most
popular tourist destination in Brazil, it’s worth focusing on here. Rio is
actually safer than it was a decade ago, but street crimes are still common in
many areas, especially at night. It’s possible to enjoy the resorts and beaches
of this city, but common sense precautions should be taken.
6. Guatemala City, Guatemala
Although Guatemala, a Central American nation on the
Caribbean, has many tourist attractions, it’s a nation that is plagued with
drug violence. It has a high murder rate and other common crimes include street
robberies, bus holdups and carjackings. It’s advisable if visiting Guatemala to
remain in safer regions and avoid Guatemala City.
5. Acapulco, Mexico
Not long ago, this city was considered a safe and luxurious
resort area. While tourism to Acapulco is still popular, drug violence has now
made this into a dangerous area. Recent statistics reveal that this city has
one of the world’s highest murder rates -142 per 100,000 people. People
visiting Acapulco are advised to remain on the property of the resorts where
they are staying, as most of the crime occurs in surrounding areas.
4. Baghdad, Iraq
Bombings, gunfire and other violent events are common in
Iraq. This country has been on the “do not travel” list for Americans for many
years and Baghdad remains a dangerous place. The future of Iraq is extremely
uncertain as U.S. troops are departing from the country. This is another
war-torn country that is not likely to be safe anytime soon. Since the violence
in Baghdad usually consists of unpredictable outbreaks of terrorism, it’s not a
place that people should visit without a good reason.
3. Kabul, Afghanistan
This has been one of the most dangerous cities in the world
for some time. It is still a war zone, although U.S. troops are gradually being
removed from the country. Terrorist attacks, including many bombings are
common. Kabul is facing a very uncertain future and will probably be a very
dangerous place for the foreseeable future. Like Baghdad, Kabul is a city where
violence can occur at any time.
2. Karachi, Pakistan
Pakistan is experiencing a great deal of political unrest, and
crime as well as terrorism is rampant. Assassinations are common, as well as
suicide bombings and gang warfare. Karachi is one of the centers of this
violence and tourists are advised to avoid this city.
1. San Pedro Sula, Honduras
This city has ranked as one of the world’s most violent for
several years now. According to many sources, it has the highest homicide rates
in the world -169 per 100,000 people. Arms trafficking is a big problem, and
illegal firearms are prevalent throughout the city. This is a city that
tourists would do well to avoid.
Source: http://www.escapehere.com/
Source: http://www.escapehere.com/
