Hurricane Simon and storm Rachel leave two dead and 10 missing in Mexico
Hurricane Simon and former tropical storm Rachel brought torrential rain and flooding to Mexico's Pacific coast. Simon is forecast to reach Mazatlán, Sinaloa, between Wednesday, 14 October and Thursday, 15 October.
Two deaths on Mexico's Pacific coast
Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado confirmed at a news briefing on Monday, 12 October, that a 71-year-old man died during Hurricane Simon after a retaining wall collapsed under the weight of intense rain. According to the Guerrero-based agency IRZA, cited by Al Jazeera, the man had been feeding his animals on the western edge of Chilpancingo when the wall came down on him. Laura Velázquez Alzúa, the national coordinator of Protección Civil, confirmed the same death at the president's press conference at the National Palace that morning.
In Baja California, Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila reported that a girl died from the effects of Rachel, which Al Jazeera says peaked in early October as a Category 3 storm. Rachel made landfall in the state over the weekend, and dpa reports that local media documented flooding, property damage and power outages in several municipalities on the peninsula. Al Jazeera describes the storm as post-tropical at landfall, while dpa calls it a tropical storm.
El País, cited by Al Jazeera, also reported that a cliff diver was killed in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, after jumping into the sea.
Ten missing and damaged homes
Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila put the number of missing in Baja California at 10, with eight in Ensenada on the Pacific coast and two in the fishing town of San Felipe on the Gulf of California, according to Al Jazeera. La Jornada, a local newspaper, reports 11 missing in the state, and the figures remain preliminary. Further south, ANSA reports that Simon caused disruption in Acapulco and Colima, where 71 homes and 35 commercial businesses were damaged.
In the other states hit by Simon, Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco, Protección Civil reports no significant damage. Velázquez told the president's press conference:
There are no major impacts
- Guerrero, dead
- 1 people
- Baja California, dead
- 1 people
- Baja California missing, per governor
- 10 people
- Baja California missing, per La Jornada
- 11 people
Simon's track and forecast
Dpa reports that Simon was still listed as a Category 4 hurricane on Sunday morning, 11 October, and El País says it had threatened to make landfall as a Category 4 in Jalisco and Colima before changing course. By late Monday morning, 12 October, the storm had weakened to Category 2 with maximum sustained winds of about 155 km/h (100 mph), according to the US National Hurricane Center cited by Al Jazeera, while ANSA gives 175 km/h. Its centre was about 115 km west-southwest of Cabo Corrientes in Jalisco and drifting west at 3 km/h. El País describes Simon as a Category 3 hurricane on Monday.
Forecasts differ on timing. ANSA says landfall at Mazatlán is expected between Wednesday, 14 October and Thursday, 15 October, dpa puts the approach on the night to Thursday, 15 October, and Al Jazeera says Thursday or Friday, 15 or 16 October. Authorities continue to warn of heavy rain, strong winds, high surf and landslides along the Pacific coast.
- Simon still listed as a Category 4 hurricane, per dpa
- Simon weakened to Category 2, per the US National Hurricane Center via Al Jazeera
- Forecast window for Simon's landfall at Mazatlán, Sinaloa
Emergency response
President Claudia Sheinbaum guaranteed the activation of emergency plans in seven states to secure supplies and access to isolated areas, according to ANSA. El País reports that she instructed the armed forces' Plan DN-III-E to stay active to protect and assist the population. She urged citizens to follow official channels for information and to stay away from the sea. Al Jazeera reports that experts warn the death toll from both storms could rise, as downed trees, high winds and floodwaters continue to affect residents.
