Hurricane Simon turns into a level 4 storm near Mexico

• AFP, PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico

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Hurricane Simon strengthened into a powerful Category 4 storm and was expected to make landfall or skirt the coast of west-central Mexico yesterday, the US National Hurricane Center said.

Fluctuations in strength are expected until the core of Simon reaches the coast, with a maximum wind speed of 249kph, the center said.

“Significant or catastrophic wind, surge, and rainfall appears likely over portions of west-central Mexico” on Saturday night and yesterday, it added.

“Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion shortly in the hurricane warning area,” it said.

It comes as Florida assesses the damage from Isaias, the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, which killed at least four people in the southeastern US.

Simon is the latest in a busy hurricane season in the Pacific, where the powerful El Nino is weakening wind shear, allowing the storms to gain in strength.

Mexico’s navy had evacuated about 100 people from settlements along the country’s west coast due to the storm.

In the Pacific tourist resort of Puerto Vallarta, the skies were cloudy on Saturday, but the sea was still relatively calm.

The government of Jalisco state, where Puerto Vallarta is located, declared a red alert for several municipalities.

The airport has also suspended operations.

However, residents of Puerto Vallarta, which sits on a huge horseshoe-shaped bay that helps defuse the power of a hurricane, appeared largely unfazed by the threat.

While shop owners sandbagged the entrances to their stores and boarded up the doors and windows, there was little sense of impending disaster.

“What people are most scared of is that the water will reach a tall height... like it did with Hurricane Kenna,” furniture shop owner Paulina Perez said, in reference to the 2002 storm that killed at least four people.

She put up a sign in her shop that read: “Simon, be brief, be peaceful.”

“Simon says: ‘Everything is going to be alright,’” someone had spray-painted on a board, in a play on the name of a popular children’s game.

Moises Villasenor said he was “a little worried” as he filled sandbags to protect his small hotel, situated about three blocks from the seafront.

On the whole, “we’re very positive,” he said.

Tourists also exuded calm.

“We’re going to enjoy it as much as we can, even if it’s just for today,” said Edna Morales, 41, who arrived on Friday with her husband.

Authorities said they would order residents to take shelter starting at 5pm.