Hurricane and tropical storm leave six dead in Mexico

Hurricane Simon, which is moving across the Pacific, strengthened to Category 1 and caused torrential rain and flooding in the Mexican states of Nayarit and Sinaloa, according to official information from the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Mexican emergency services and civil protection forces have been placed on high alert because river levels in the disaster zone have exceeded critical thresholds, raising the risk of widespread flooding.

At least six people have died and five are missing after torrential rain and landslides in Guerrero, affected by Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel at the same time, and in the city of Ensenada in the state of Baja California.

More than 300 members of the Mexican armed forces, along with specialized equipment, have been deployed for search-and-rescue operations in flooded areas after the El Pípila River overflowed in Ensenada.

Powerful floodwaters triggered by the disaster have seriously damaged infrastructure, hundreds of homes and vehicles, and cut off transport links to some communities.