By GlobalDeskNews Staff | 14 October 2026
Six people have now died and five more remain missing in Mexico after Hurricane Simon and the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel unleashed flooding and landslides along the country's Pacific coast, authorities said Tuesday. The Hurricane Simon Mexico death toll rose after an unidentified person's body was found near a stream in Baja California, the state prosecutor's office told The Associated Press, in a disaster that has forced hundreds of rescuers into a race against time — even as a brand-new tropical storm spins up behind Simon.
Hurricane Simon Mexico death toll climbs as Ensenada floods
The worst damage came far north, in the coastal city of Ensenada, Baja California, where flooding from Rachel's remnants killed at least five people. Among them were a 13-year-old girl whose body was found Sunday, two women aged 30 and 35, and a 4-year-old boy, whose bodies were recovered Monday. The sixth victim was discovered near a stream on Tuesday.
Five others are still missing in Baja California: three in Ensenada, plus a father and son who went fishing Saturday in San Felipe, on the Gulf of California, and never returned. About 300 military personnel, police and rescue workers searched along Ensenada's El Pipila stream on Tuesday, while the Mexican Navy kept looking for the missing fishermen, state civil protection authorities said.
Floodwaters swept away vehicles, damaged homes and cut off access to some communities around Ensenada. Johana Nuriulu, a resident of the city's Buena Vista community, said the flooding began overnight, shortly after heavy rain knocked out electricity. "We heard a loud noise that sounded like ocean waves, but very intense," she said. "The water was sweeping everything away; it took a cabin... animals, everything."
In a remarkable rescue, Mexican soldiers used helicopters to pull 32 people — including 13 minors — from Rancho Genesis, a camp for orphans staffed by missionaries near Ensenada. The army said 22 of those rescued were foreign nationals, including Americans and Germans, according to Baja California Security Secretary Gen. Laureano Carrillo.
Simon's deadly turn through Guerrero and Jalisco
Farther south, Hurricane Simon's own heavy rains turned streets into rivers. In Guerrero, the storm toppled trees and utility poles, blocked roads and flooded homes in coastal communities, including the resort city of Acapulco, Governor Evelyn Salgado said. A 71-year-old person died when a wall collapsed in Chilpancingo, the state capital.
Simon had already battered the coast as a powerful major hurricane before weakening. It peaked as a Category 4 storm with winds around 150 mph on Saturday, then weakened after drawing in drier air. By Tuesday it was a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph (90 mph), centred about 180 kilometres west of Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, barely moving at 4 kph, according to the US National Hurricane Center in Miami.
The storm spent days drifting nearly parallel to the coast, brushing Manzanillo — where heavy rain flooded homes and streets — and Puerto Vallarta, which braced for a direct hit but awoke Monday to clear skies. Puerto Vallarta's airport gradually resumed operations Tuesday after closing over the weekend.
Authorities warned waves of up to five metres were still expected in some coastal areas, and NHC forecasters cautioned that heavy rainfall from Simon could still trigger life-threatening flooding and mudslides over the next few days.
What happens next: Simon eyes Sinaloa, Trudy spins up
Simon isn't finished. Mexico's National Civil Protection coordinator Laura Velázquez said Monday the latest official report indicates the storm will approach Mazatlan, Sinaloa, as a Category 1 hurricane, with landfall possible late this week. A hurricane watch was in effect for parts of Nayarit and Sinaloa, while a tropical storm watch covered parts of Jalisco.
And right behind it comes another threat. Tropical Storm Trudy formed Tuesday in the Pacific, about 790 kilometres south-southeast of Acapulco, and is forecast to become a powerful Category 4 hurricane by the end of the week, the NHC said. Trudy — the season's 22nd named storm — currently has winds of 65 kph and could pack winds of up to 140 mph later this week, potentially making it the ninth major hurricane of the 2026 Eastern Pacific season, already the most energetic on record.
Forecasters say Trudy could approach the coast of southwestern or west-central Mexico as a powerful hurricane, though track confidence remains low. Back-to-back systems striking the same coastline would be a nightmare scenario for saturated hillsides — Simon's own stall offshore has already dumped as much as 30 inches of rain in parts of Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco.
Why it matters
Mexico's Pacific coast is having one of its most brutal hurricane seasons in memory, and the 2026 Eastern Pacific season has now produced its deadliest combination yet. The twin hit — Simon's slow grind along the coast and Rachel's remnants detonating a flash flood hundreds of miles north in Baja California — shows how far a storm's damage can reach from its centre. With Trudy spinning up and Simon still lurking off Sinaloa, the danger is far from over. For travellers, airports at Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo have faced closures and cancellations, and authorities have urged coastal residents to stay away from beaches as the storms churn on.
Key Takeaways
- The death toll from Hurricane Simon and Tropical Storm Rachel's remnants in Mexico has risen to six, with five more people missing.
- Five of the dead were in Ensenada, Baja California, from Rachel's floodwaters — including a 13-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy.
- About 300 military, police and rescue workers are searching Ensenada's El Pipila stream; the Navy is hunting for two missing fishermen.
- Soldiers airlifted 32 people, including 22 foreign nationals, from an orphan camp near Ensenada.
- Simon, now a Category 1 hurricane, may approach Mazatlan, Sinaloa, this week as forecasters warn of more flooding and mudslides.
- Tropical Storm Trudy formed Tuesday and could become a Category 4 hurricane, potentially the season's ninth major storm.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people have died in the Mexico storms?
Six people are confirmed dead as of Tuesday: five in Ensenada, Baja California, killed by flooding from Tropical Storm Rachel's remnants — including two children — and one person in Chilpancingo, Guerrero, killed by Hurricane Simon's rains when a wall collapsed. Five more people remain missing in Baja California.
Who is still missing?
Three people are missing in Ensenada, where rescue crews are searching the El Pipila stream. A father and son who went fishing Saturday in San Felipe, on the Gulf of California, also never returned, and the Mexican Navy is searching for them.
Where is Hurricane Simon now?
On Tuesday, Simon was a Category 1 hurricane centred about 180 kilometres west of Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, with 150 kph (90 mph) winds, barely moving. It weakened from a Category 4 peak of around 150 mph on Saturday after drawing in drier mountain air.
Is Mazatlan in danger from Hurricane Simon?
Possibly. Mexico's civil protection agency says Simon is expected to approach Mazatlan, Sinaloa, as a Category 1 hurricane. A hurricane watch is in effect for parts of Nayarit and Sinaloa. Authorities in the port city have already taken preventive measures, and up to 30 inches of rain could still fall in parts of western Mexico.
What is Tropical Storm Trudy?
Trudy formed Tuesday about 790 kilometres south-southeast of Acapulco with winds of 65 kph. The NHC forecasts it could strengthen into a Category 4 hurricane by the end of the week, with winds up to 140 mph. It is the 22nd named storm of the 2026 Pacific season, already the most energetic on record.
Why is this hurricane season so intense?
A strong El Niño has supercharged the Eastern Pacific, warming ocean waters and fuelling more frequent, powerful storms. Forecasters note the 2026 season is the most energetic on record, with nine Category 4 and 5 hurricanes potentially once Trudy intensifies.
Should travellers avoid Mexico's Pacific coast?
Authorities advise staying away from beaches and heeding local warnings. Puerto Vallarta's airport reopened Tuesday after a weekend closure, but airlines issued travel waivers and cruise lines cancelled port calls. Conditions can change fast — check with your airline before travelling.
Related stories
- Hurricane Isaias to Hit Gulf Coast Saturday as Category 2
- Hurricane Isaias Now Category 2, Set for Tonight's Landfall
- Hurricane Isaias Strengthens to Category 3 Before Landfall
Sources
- The Associated Press, "Death toll rises to 6 as Hurricane Simon and Rachel remnants unleash floods in Mexico," via The Manila Times, 14 October 2026 — manilatimes.net
- Agence France-Presse, "Five dead as Hurricane Simon, Rachel pummel Mexico's Pacific coast," via Free Malaysia Today, 13 October 2026 — freemalaysiatoday.com
- Fox Weather, "Tropical Storm Trudy forms in Pacific, could rapidly become Category 4 hurricane," 13 October 2026 — foxweather.com
- US National Hurricane Center, via The Watchers, Hurricane Simon advisory update, 13 October 2026 — watchers.news