Hurricane Simon lashes Mexico's Pacific coast – Sheinbaum: "Safety is the priority"
The powerful hurricane is passing close to Puerto Vallarta and the Jalisco coast. Authorities are evacuating at-risk areas and warning of flash floods and landslides.
Graphic: TERRA WORLD NEWS (own graphic based on the sources listed)
Hurricane Simon hit Mexico's Pacific coast with damaging winds and rain on Sunday. According to the US National Hurricane Center, the eye of the Category 4 storm, with sustained winds of about 220 kilometres per hour, stayed just offshore, around 100 kilometres from Cabo Corrientes near the resort of Puerto Vallarta. It was unclear whether Simon would make landfall. Specialist Phillipe Pappin warned of "catastrophic wind and life-threatening storm surge impacts". Telemundo later reported that Simon had been downgraded to Category 3.
President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote: "Precautionary evacuation efforts to safe zones are ongoing; the priority is our safety." She urged people in Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit and Michoacán to stay sheltered until the government says the danger has passed. Jalisco suspended classes in 22 coastal municipalities and Puerto Vallarta's waterfront was closed. Public transport was also suspended. Jalisco began evacuating people from at-risk areas.
The most damaging winds and rain were expected overnight into Monday morning. Forecasters predicted 25 to 50 centimetres of rain in many places and up to 76 centimetres in parts of Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco. Telemundo reported landslides in Acapulco, with no injuries. There were no initial reports of deaths caused by Simon.