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

At least five people have died after Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel battered Mexico’s Pacific coast, according to reports. The powerful storms caused flooding that toppled trees and electricity poles, blocked roads and submerged homes. Governor Evelyn Salgado of Guerrero state confirmed that a 71-year-old man lost his life when a wall collapsed in Chilpancingo, the state’s capital.

The storm also damaged infrastructure and residences in coastal towns, including the major seaport of Acapulco. Tropical Storm Rachel is responsible for the deaths of four family members, including two children, whose bodies were discovered near Ensenada in Baja California. Five others are still missing, while security forces rescued 32 people using helicopters.

Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar stated that officials were aiding over 50 individuals in temporary shelters. Hurricane Simon did not make landfall and, having weakened to a category two on the Saffir-Simpson scale, was moving away from the coast. Meteorologists warned that heavy rainfall associated with the storm could still lead to life-threatening flooding and mudslides in the coming days.

A rain alert remains in effect. The National Hurricane Center in Miami cautioned that waves up to five meters high could still impact certain coastal regions. Flooding and landslides have already affected communities situated near rivers and streams in Michoacan and Colima states. The El Niño phenomenon, characterized by warmer Pacific water temperatures, is contributing to more intense hurricanes this season.

Meteorologists predict that the 2026-27 El Niño will be the most powerful on record, and scientists now believe that human-induced global warming is making such events even more severe.