Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel have left at least five people dead and caused widespread flooding, property damage, and infrastructure disruptions along Mexico’s Pacific coast. Emergency crews have been deployed to carry out helicopter rescues and manage widespread damages to roads, power grids, and coastal communities.
Impact Across Western Mexico and Death Toll
According to Mexican authorities and the U.S. National Hurricane Center, Simon weakened while producing heavy rain, strong winds, and dangerous coastal conditions across western Mexico. The storms triggered severe flooding and ongoing landslide risks in multiple states.
In Guerrero state, Governor Evelyn Salgado reported that Simon damaged infrastructure and homes in coastal towns, including the major seaport of Acapulco. A 71-year-old man died in Chilpancingo after a wall collapsed during the storm.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Rachel contributed further tragedy. It was blamed for the deaths of four members of a single family, including two children, whose bodies were recovered on the outskirts of Ensenada in Baja California. State prosecutors noted that five individuals remained missing. Security forces utilized helicopters to rescue 32 people from vulnerable areas. Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar confirmed that officials were actively assisting more than 50 residents housed in temporary shelters.
Storm Intensity, Path, and Warnings
Although Hurricane Simon remained offshore, its expansive wind field and torrential downpours hammered west-central Mexico. The storm previously reached major hurricane status before weakening into a Category 2 system on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Forecasters warned that life-threatening flooding, heavy rainfall, and mudslides would persist in areas of steep terrain.
- Rainfall Totals: States including Michoacan, Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit, and Sinaloa faced extreme rainfall risks. Isolated maximum storm totals were projected to reach up to 30 inches in parts of Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco.
- Coastal Hazards: Waves reaching up to five meters, or 16 feet, high were reported along affected coastal zones.
- Evacuations: In Jalisco, officials suspended classes across 22 coastal municipalities, enforced precautionary evacuations, and deployed National Guard patrols to urge residents and tourists to stay indoors.
Government Response and Precautions
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum used social media to urge residents in Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit, and Michoacan to remain sheltered until official notifications indicated that the danger had passed. Civil protection teams advised the public to avoid non-essential travel on public roads as recovery and rescue operations continued.
Meteorologists noted that the active Pacific hurricane season is being exacerbated by environmental factors. These include rising water temperatures associated with the El Niño phenomenon and broader global climate patterns, which lead to intensified storm systems in the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the heavy flooding along Mexico’s Pacific coast?
The severe flooding and extreme weather were caused by the combined impacts of Hurricane Simon, which remained offshore while battering the coast with heavy rains and strong winds, and Tropical Storm Rachel.
How many fatalities were reported due to the storms?
At least five deaths were confirmed. One fatality occurred in Guerrero due to a collapsed wall, while four members of a family died in Baja California as a result of Tropical Storm Rachel.
Did Hurricane Simon make landfall?
No, Hurricane Simon did not make landfall. It remained just offshore as a Category 2 hurricane while tracking near the west-central coast of Mexico before moving away.
What regions were hardest hit by the rainfall?
The states of Michoacan, Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit, and Sinaloa experienced the most intense rainfall, facing life-threatening floods and mudslides in mountainous and coastal terrain.
What safety measures were implemented by authorities?
Authorities suspended classes in coastal municipalities, opened temporary shelters, deployed National Guard units to secure evacuated areas, and issued strict stay-at-home advisories for residents and tourists.
