Hurricane Simon hitting western Mexico after tropical systems kill 6

The death toll from Hurricane Simon and the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel rose to six Tuesday after heavy rains triggered flooding and landslides along Mexico's Pacific coast, authorities said.

While the eye of the hurricane remained offshore, its outer bands slammed communities this week between the Sierra Madre and the Pacific Ocean near Puerto Vallarta.

The hurricane center said the storm's intensity could fluctuate over the next few days but would likely maintain hurricane strength through Thursday, with gradual weakening forecast thereafter.

Up to 3 inches of rain are expected from Simon across the Mexican states of Baja California Sur, Nayarit and Sinaloa by Friday, the weather service said.

Resident Johana Nuriulu said the flooding began during the night, shortly after heavy rain knocked out electricity. "We heard a loud noise that sounded like ocean waves, but really loud," she said.

Several communities were cut off by landslides and overflowing rivers elsewhere in Baja California.

In the afternoon, the Mexican military used helicopters to rescue 32 people — 22 of them foreigners — from a ranch in Ensenada. Baja California Gov. Marina del Pilar Ávila said 13 were youths.

The state Secretary of Security, Gen. Laureano Carrillo, said some of the group were missionaries meeting at the ranch and that among them were Germans and Americans.

Five others remained missing in Baja California, including three in Ensenada and a father and son who went fishing Saturday in San Felipe, on the Gulf of California, and never returned.

To the south, Simon downed trees and electricity poles, blocked roads and flooded homes in coastal towns of Guerrero state, including the major seaport of Acapulco, Gov. Evelyn Salgado said at a news conference.

In Puerto Vallarta, workers removed wooden panels from boarded-up storefronts and businesses reopened Monday as rains eased. The popular tourist destination's international airport suspended operations until Tuesday morning.

"Personally, I think we should remain on alert because we don't really know whether it will arrive, move elsewhere or dissipate," said Noelia Carrillo, a tourism agency worker.