At least two dead after Hurricane Barbara hits Mexico

Hurricane Barbara hit Mexico’s southern Pacific coast overnight, flooding roads, toppling trees and killing two men before weakening to a tropical storm as it moved inland.

The US National Hurricane Centre said Barbara, which had earlier moved close to the country's biggest oil refinery, was 80 km west of the city of Tuxtla Gutierrez in Chiapas state. Winds were blowing at up to 95 kmh.

The hurricane was churning north-northeast at about1 5 kph and was expected to weaken rapidly overnight, the centre said.

According to media reports, 14 fishermen disappeared in the state of Oaxaca during the storm. Local emergency services said they could not confirm that information. Manuel Maza, director of emergency services in Oaxaca state, said that very strong winds and intense rainfall had hit the region and that power outages were reported.

Local emergency services said a 61-year-old US national surfing off the beach at Salina Cruz drowned during the storm. A 26-year-old Mexican man was killed as he tried to cross a river.

Ports for small vessels in the area have been closed and emergency services in Oaxaca said they evacuated residents from some areas as a precaution, including the immediate vicinity of the refinery.

A tropical storm warning is in effect from Salina Cruz in Oaxaca to Pijijiapan in Chiapas state.

Between 10 and 20 cm of rain is expected over eastern Oaxaca through western Chiapas, along with a storm surge of 1 to 1.5 metres above normal tide levels, the NHC said.

Reuters