Mexico coast braces itself against Hurricane Simon

Tourists and residents of Mexico's Puerto Vallarta braced Sunday

for Hurricane Simon as the powerful Category 4 storm

moved just offshore, threatening the Pacific coast with

catastrophic winds and rain.

Canadian April Corbett who moved to Puerto Vallarta last year after

visiting for decades, said she felt safe at home and praised

local officials for their efficiency.

"You know, I'm actually… Every time something happens -

I was here in February (when Mexican authorities killed a cartel leader) -

and every time something happens

I find the authorities to actually do a pretty good job.

I think people have this vision of Mexico that they don't care

and they are all corrupt and blah, blah, blah. It's just not true."

The storm was packing sustained winds of 240 kilometres per hour,

and forecasters said it remained unclear whether its eye would

make landfall.

Cabo Corrientes, near Puerto Vallarta, was considered the most

likely location for a direct hit.

Jalisco authorities had also began evacuating people from

high risk areas.