Escalation: President Urges Residents to Stay Indoors

President Claudia Sheinbaum urged people along Mexico’s Pacific coast to stay indoors as Hurricane Simon intensified to Category 4 just offshore. “We urge residents of coastal municipalities in Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit and Michoacan to remain sheltered until authorities officially declare that the danger has passed,” she said. The eye was tracking close to the west central coast, keeping its most damaging winds and rain over communities near the shore.

Authorities raised alerts across the region. Civil protection put 28 municipalities in Jalisco and Colima under its highest warning, with 93 more on high alert. Puerto Vallarta’s international airport closed temporarily and nonessential activities were halted.

The storm packed sustained winds near 145 mph, moved slowly, and could pass within about 15 kilometers of the Jalisco coast. It threatened destructive storm surge, waves up to nine meters, and 25 to 50 centimeters of rain, with local totals up to 76 centimeters in parts of Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco. The navy evacuated about 100 people by boat from coastal communities to Puerto Vallarta, where shelters were open.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources