Reuters
Tuesday, June 23, 2009; 11:27 PM

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Hurricane Andres, the first cyclone of the
eastern Pacific season, pounded western Mexico on Tuesday after sweeping
a fisherman to his death and flooding streets in Acapulco.

Andres blew into a category one hurricane with sustained winds of 75
mph, coming close to Mexico's Pacific coast before easing in strength
and turning northwest, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

The storm, which was around 110 miles west of the port and resort town
of Manzanillo, was downgraded back to a tropical storm.

"Some additional weakening is forecast during the next 24 hours," the
NHC said.

The ports of Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo and Lazaro Cardenas were all
closed as the storm created huge waves.

No major tourist resorts were in immediate danger, however, and Mexico
has no oil drilling platforms in the Pacific.

On Monday, Andres caused heavy rains that flooded parts of Acapulco, and
a man in his mid-thirties was swept away to his death by a wave as he
stood waist-deep in the sea in a nearby town fishing with a line.

"He was dragged away," said an emergency services spokesman for the
surrounding state of Guerrero.

A tropical storm warning was in place for the stretch of coast between
Manzanillo and Cabo Corrientes.

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