Jamaican police announced Thursday that 73 people have been killed in gang-related skirmishes since the attempted extradition of an alleged drug lord began four days ago.

In that time, the scope of the conflict has spread from the Kingston and St. Andrew to other parts of the island, as opportunistic gang members and criminals use the confusion to eliminate their enemies.

Jamaican authorities are considering a motion to extend the state of emergency to South Central St. Catherine, Spanish Town and Portmore after several gang killings occurred in region in the past 24 hours.

Gang members in St. Catherine killed three children in a drive-by shooting, while in another incident, five people were killed after attackers dressed as police ordered them out of their house, killed them and set fire to their place.

Jamaican authorities have cracked down hard on all suspects, taking more than 500 people into custody during the search for Christopher “Dudus” Coke, a drug kingpin wanted by the U.S. government.

Previously: Jamaica’s State of Emergency: Violence Engulfs Kingston

Despite the violence in Kingston, the more touristed areas of Jamaica, including Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, Negril, and the South Coast are unaffected by the conflict, says Jamaica Tourist Board Director John Lynch.

These resort areas are located four hours from the battle zones located in the capital.

Unfazed by the conflict, Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International, two of the largest cruise lines to service the island, announced plans to go ahead with calls to Jamaica this week.

Three of Carnival’s ships, Destiny, Conquest and Liberty, are expected to bring approximately 10,000 passengers into Montego Bay and Ocho Rios.

Flights to and from Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay have been unaffected. However, the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston has been hit with cancellations as access to the airport has been intermittently blocked by gun battles between gangs and police.

A number of flights from Norman Manley have been diverted to Sangster International to counter any safety concerns. Air Jamaica has advised passengers flying into Norman Manley to contact their reservations center in North America for updates about possible cancellations or diverted flights.

By Adriana Padilla for PeterGreenberg.com.

Related Links: Toronto Star, Voice of America, Jamaica Gleaner

Related Links on PeterGreenberg.com:

• Jamaica’s State of Emergency: Gang-Related Violence Engulfs Kingston
• Laid-Back Caribbean Travel: Jamaica’s Southwestern Coast
• Ask the Locals Travel Guide: Jamaica
• Culinary Travel: Jamaica’s Roadside Food – With Recipes!
• Jamaican Getaways on the Cheap
• Caribbean Travel section
• Terrorism, Security & Crime section