MANZANILLO, Mexico, Oct 11 – President Claudia Sheinbaum has urged residents along Mexico’s Pacific coast to stay indoors as Hurricane Simon approaches the west-central coast, bringing destructive winds, dangerous storm surges, and the potential for deadly flooding.
The Category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 kph), was located approximately 65 miles (105 km) west-northwest of Manzanillo, Colima state, at 9 a.m. local time, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC). The storm was moving north-northwest at 11 kph (7 mph).
“With the approaching impact of Category 4 Hurricane Simon, we urge residents of coastal municipalities in Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit, and Michoacan to remain sheltered until authorities officially declare that the danger has passed,” Sheinbaum stated on X. She noted that precautionary evacuations were ongoing and advised residents to remain off the streets and follow civil protection instructions.
The National Hurricane Center mentioned that Simon is expected to remain close to the coast on Monday, with uncertainty about whether it will make landfall or stay just offshore. Even without a direct strike, the storm is likely to produce dangerous conditions, including large waves and damaging winds.
In Manzanillo, Mexico’s largest port, residents appeared calm on Saturday, displaying little sign of panic buying and preparing for the storm. While some stores began boarding windows and businesses closed, civil protection personnel erected barriers and raised warning flags to keep residents away from the shoreline.
As Hurricane Simon shifted westward, rain and winds caused flooding in Manzanillo, leading to the deployment of military and National Guard units throughout the city. Reports emerged of residents navigating flooded streets, while military personnel assisted in removing water from homes.
“The beds, refrigerators, stoves, all the furniture got wet. The whole house was flooded,” said Cecilia Palomar, whose home was inundated. She described her elderly mother’s reluctance to leave the house, even as the water rose.
The National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC) has issued the highest cyclone alert for 28 municipalities in Jalisco and Colima, while another 93 municipalities are under a high alert. Authorities have temporarily closed Puerto Vallarta’s international airport, suspended nonessential activities, and opened emergency shelters in vulnerable coastal communities.
The NHC warned that heavy rainfall could lead to life-threatening flooding and mudslides, particularly in mountainous areas, with continued monitoring as the storm progresses.
