Five dead as Hurricane Simon, Rachel pummel Mexico's Pacific coast

Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel have devastated Mexico's Pacific coast, claiming five lives, authorities reported on Monday. The El Nino phenomenon, marked by warmer Pacific waters, has intensified hurricane activity during this season. Simon was responsible for the death of a 71-year-old man whose home collapsed in Chilpancingo, Guerrero, said Governor Evelyn Salgado during a presidential press conference.

Tropical Storm Rachel was responsible for four fatalities, including two children, whose bodies were discovered near Ensenada, Baja California, according to the state prosecutor's office. Another five individuals are still missing as security forces utilized helicopters to rescue 32 people.

Simon did not make landfall, but it weakened to a Category 2 storm and is now moving away from the coast. Rain alerts remain in effect, with authorities warning that waves up to five meters high could still impact some coastal regions. Flooding and landslides have already affected communities near rivers and streams in Michoacan and Colima states.

Simon is expected to approach Mexico's west-central coast between Wednesday and Thursday, according to the US National Hurricane Center. National civil protection coordinator Laura Velazquez stated that the storm will likely hit Mazatlan, Sinaloa, as a Category 1 hurricane. Despite the recent turmoil, Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination, observed clear skies and a rainbow on Monday, offering a glimmer of hope to residents who exercised along the waterfront. Magda Flores, 55, expressed relief and optimism that businesses would soon reopen.