Hurricane Simon Kills One in Mexico

Hurricane Simon has killed one person, damaged property and caused flooding along Mexico’s Pacific coast, although the storm weakened and did not make landfall, authorities said on Monday.

The hurricane dropped to Category 2 on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale as it moved slowly along the coast.

Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado said a 71-year-old man died in Chilpancingo after a wall collapsed. She announced the death during the daily presidential press conference.

Although Simon was moving away from the coastline, authorities maintained a rain alert and warned that waves could reach five metres in some coastal areas.

Flooding and landslides had already affected communities near rivers and streams in Michoacan and Colima states.

The United States National Hurricane Centre said Simon was expected to approach Mexico’s west-central coast between Wednesday and Thursday.

Laura Velazquez, the national civil protection coordinator, said the latest government forecast indicated that the storm would reach Mazatlan in Sinaloa state as a Category 1 hurricane.

Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination that had prepared for severe weather, experienced clearer conditions on Monday, with an AFP team reporting clear skies and a rainbow over the resort.

Residents were seen exercising along the seafront promenade as powerful waves continued to crash against the coast. Magda Flores, 55, told AFP that the improved weather had eased her concerns and expressed hope that businesses closed ahead of the storm would reopen soon.

Meanwhile, Hurricane Rachel dissipated in Baja California, the Mexican state bordering the United States.

Governor Marina del Pilar Avila said 10 people remained missing, while a child had been found dead.

The El Niño climate phenomenon, which involves warmer-than-usual Pacific Ocean temperatures, is contributing to a more intense hurricane season in the region.