Hurricane Polo has claimed at least two lives in Mexico before reaching the coast, with three additional people reported missing in the western state of Jalisco following heavy rainfall and landslides, according to local civil protection authorities.
The Pacific hurricane was positioned approximately 460 kilometers southwest of Cabo San Lucas as of Sunday evening local time, according to the U.S. Hurricane Center. At that point, Polo maintained Category 3 status on a scale of five, with sustained wind speeds of 205 kilometers per hour.
The storm was forecast to make landfall on the Baja California Sur peninsula in northwestern Mexico on Monday evening local time, with predictions indicating it would strike near the municipality of Mulegé. Authorities warned of heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and inundation in affected areas.
The two fatalities and three missing persons were reported in Jalisco, where emergency teams conducted search and rescue operations. The deaths and disappearances occurred in areas including Puerto Vallarta and Talpa de Allende, where residents were affected by the strong waves and heavy rains associated with the cyclone.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum requested confirmation from civil protection authorities regarding reports of eight deaths across Durango, Jalisco, and Nayarit states. She stated that official verification of the casualty figures was needed. As of Monday, the official balance from state authorities in Jalisco stood at three confirmed deaths and several missing persons.
A new tropical storm, Rachel, was forming in the southern part of the country, adding another meteorological threat to the region. The National Civil Protection Commission recommended that residents remain indoors during Polo's impact and warned of potential power and internet outages in Baja California Sur extending until midnight.