Storms Simon and Rachel hit Mexico hard
Emergency services search for victims and warn of further flooding along the west coast.
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Hurricane Simon and the remnants of storm Rachel have caused deaths and extensive damage in Mexico. Simon continued moving along the west coast on Monday, while emergency services in several regions faced flooding and evacuations.
According to the Associated Press, at least five people died as a result of the two storm systems. The victims died in different parts of the country; Mexican authorities did not link all the deaths to the same storm. As a result, initial figures vary by source, while rescue services were still mapping the consequences.
Simon moved along the Pacific coast on Monday, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to Jalisco and surrounding coastal areas, among others. The US National Hurricane Center warned that the storm was moving slowly and that its track remained uncertain. Even after the winds weaken, prolonged rainfall can remain dangerous, because rivers are already carrying a great deal of water and the ground has already absorbed a great deal of it.
In Baja California, rescue workers were active in areas previously affected by Rachel. Vehicles and homes were damaged by water there. In other coastal states, the focus was on warnings about flooding, landslides and dangerous waves. Local authorities moved residents from vulnerable areas to safer places.
The two systems followed one another in quick succession. Rachel previously moved across parts of Mexico and the south-western United States; Simon then took the route along Mexico’s west coast. For residents, this means that repair work, power cuts and damage claims coincide with fresh rain.
The National Hurricane Center reported on Monday that Simon was showing signs of weakening, but continued to warn of heavy rain and an uncertain development. The classification of a hurricane mainly says something about wind speed. The risk to people also depends on the duration of the rain, local topography, the condition of buildings and whether rivers burst their banks.
Mexico more often faces tropical storms along the Pacific coast. However, the effects are not the same everywhere. Tourist coastal towns sometimes have more resources for warnings and shelter, while residents of informal or vulnerable neighbourhoods have less protection against flooding and landslides.
It is still too early to establish the total damage. Meteorological services may further adjust Simon’s track and intensity, and local authorities still have to determine how many people had to leave their homes temporarily. In the coming days, water levels, access to affected areas and the availability of aid will be decisive.
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The current storm development and its effects in Mexico have been described by the National Hurricane Center, AP and Reuters. The article avoids a definitive death toll for each storm where sources give differing attributions.
- confirmed Simon moved along Mexico’s west coast on 12 October. — The National Hurricane Center describes Simon’s position and movement along the Mexican coast. source
- confirmed Simon and Rachel together caused at least five deaths, according to AP. — AP reports five deaths connected to the two storm systems. source
- confirmed There was flooding, damage and evacuations along parts of the west coast. — Reuters and AP report flooding, damage and warnings about evacuations. source
- confirmed Simon’s track and further development remained uncertain. — The National Hurricane Center reports higher-than-normal uncertainty in the forecast. source
Editor's note
The storm tracks, flooding and provisional death toll have been confirmed. Exact casualty figures and attribution to Simon or Rachel could vary by source.Sources
- Storms cause 5 deaths in Mexico as flood risk eases in southwestern US — Associated Press
- Hurricane Simon Discussion Number 20 — National Hurricane Center
- Hurricane Simon crawls along Mexico’s Pacific coast, bringing floods and evacuations — Reuters via Investing.com
More on this in Dutch media
- NU.nl — „mexico orkaan”
- De Telegraaf — „mexico orkaan”
- AD — „mexico orkaan”