Mexico Shuts Nine Ports, Moves 579 to Safety Over Simon
MEXICO · HURRICANE SIMON
Key Facts
- —What happened Mexico closed nine ports; 579 people evacuated or sheltered in three states.
- —Storm Category 4, 140 mph (220 km/h) winds, 140 km off Manzanillo.
- —Landfall None yet; NHC says the core moves parallel to the coast.
- —Ports shut Manzanillo, Lázaro Cárdenas, Puerto Vallarta and San Blas among them.
- —Responders 22,589 personnel deployed in Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit and Michoacán.
- —Casualties No deaths reported by officials as of Sunday afternoon.
Mexico’s two biggest Pacific cargo ports are closed as a Category 4 storm crawls up the coast without making landfall.
Mexico’s Navy closed nine ports on Sunday, 11 October, including Manzanillo and Lázaro Cárdenas, as Hurricane Simon moved up the coast. Officials reported 579 people evacuated or sheltered in Jalisco, Colima and Nayarit.
The closures matter to the US: Manzanillo is Mexico’s busiest container port, and Lázaro Cárdenas has rail links north. Puerto Vallarta, popular with American visitors, is inside the hurricane warning area.
Where Hurricane Simon Is Now
At noon local time (18:00 UTC), the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) placed the eye 85 miles (140 km) west-northwest of Manzanillo. It was about 65 miles (100 km) south-southeast of Cabo Corrientes.
Maximum sustained winds were near 140 mph (220 km/h), a Category 4 storm, slightly down from 145 mph in the morning. Simon was moving north-northwest at 7 mph (11 km/h).
The NHC headline said the “core of extremely dangerous Category 4 Hurricane Simon” was moving parallel to the coast. It expects the storm to pass very near the coast on Sunday afternoon and night and to stay close on Monday.
A hurricane warning covers Punta San Telmo to El Roblito and the Islas Marías. The NHC said hurricane conditions were likely already occurring in the southern part of that area.
Its morning forecast called for 8 to 16 inches of additional rain. Isolated totals of 30 inches are possible in Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco.
The NHC warned of life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially on steep terrain.
Ports and Airports Closed
The Navy (Semar) closed navigation at San Blas, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo and Lázaro Cárdenas, according to La Jornada. Five ports on the Baja California peninsula, from Ensenada to Guerrero Negro, were also shut.
Six more harbours, including Barra de Navidad, Nuevo Vallarta and Zihuatanejo, were closed to small vessels. The Navy put Colima under the relief phase of its Plan Marina emergency plan.
Airport operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico shut Manzanillo International Airport to all flights until 2 p.m. on Sunday, El Informador reported. Puerto Vallarta’s airport was already shut, as The Rio Times reported earlier.
Evacuations and Shelters
The federal Security Ministry (SSPC) said 22,589 personnel were deployed across the four states, La Jornada reported. They have 1,470 vehicles, 323 heavy machines and 18 aircraft.
In Jalisco, 321 people were evacuated and 256 remained in 54 temporary shelters. Colima reported 143 evacuees in six shelters.
Nayarit had 115 people in 15 shelters, and Michoacán opened 39 shelters.
A ferry took 80 residents out of Yelapa, a village south of Puerto Vallarta reached mainly by boat. Navy personnel took 55 people, including 25 children, to a shelter in La Huerta.
Non-essential activity is suspended in 24 priority municipalities. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged coastal residents to stay sheltered until officials say the danger has passed.
In Punta Pérula, La Jornada reported rain since Saturday night, many flooded areas and paralysed roads, but no victims so far. Jalisco sent 200 rescuers to the coast.
What It Means for You
US citizens in Jalisco, Colima, Nayarit and Michoacán should follow local civil protection orders and stay indoors. Travellers should check flights with their airline before heading to Puerto Vallarta or Manzanillo.
Importers with cargo routed through Manzanillo or Lázaro Cárdenas should expect berthing delays until the Navy reopens the ports.
What Is Not Known
It is not known whether Simon will make landfall. The NHC calls its track low-confidence, with guidance shifting offshore.
Officials have not given power-outage or damage figures. It was not clear whether the Manzanillo airport closure would be extended beyond 2 p.m.
What Comes Next
The NHC’s next full advisory is due at 3 p.m. local time (21:00 UTC). The ports will reopen only when the Navy lifts the closures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Hurricane Simon made landfall?
No. As of the NHC’s noon advisory on Sunday, 11 October, Simon’s core was moving parallel to the coast of west-central Mexico.
Which Mexican ports are closed?
The Navy closed San Blas, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo, Lázaro Cárdenas and five Baja California peninsula ports. Six more harbours are closed to small boats.
How many people have been evacuated?
The Security Ministry reported 321 evacuated in Jalisco, 143 in Colima and 115 sheltered in Nayarit, a total of 579.
Is Puerto Vallarta affected?
Yes. Puerto Vallarta is inside the hurricane warning area, its port is closed and its airport has been shut.
Sources: US National Hurricane Center, Intermediate Advisory 17A; NHC Discussion 17; La Jornada (SSPC figures); La Jornada (Semar port closures); La Jornada (Punta Pérula); El Informador live blog (all accessed 11 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief