SAN SALVADOR, July 4, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Tropical Storm Bonnie was upgraded to

a category one hurricane on Sunday as it swept towards Mexico after killing
three people in El Salvador and Nicaragua, the US National Hurricane Center
said.

The hurricane, the third of the season off Mexico's coast, is carrying
maximum sustained winds of 80 miles (125 kilometers) per hour "with higher
gusts," the NHC said, citing satellite images.

"The core of Bonnie is expected to remain south of, but move parallel to, the
coast of southern and southwestern Mexico during the next couple of days,"
the center said in its latest advisory.

Before moving towards Mexico, the storm caused damage to property in the
Central American countries of El Salvador and Nicaragua, felling trees and
flooding rivers, streets and hospitals.

A 24-year-old woman died in El Salvador, emergency services said, while in
Nicaragua the army said a 40-year-old man was swept away trying to cross a
river and a 38-year-old man died trying to rescue passengers from a bus.

Rescuers in El Salvador were still searching Sunday evening for a missing man
and the search efforts will continue on Monday, the country's civil
protection agency said.

"Bonnie generated very heavy rains and thunderstorms in the coastal area, the
volcanic mountain range and the San Salvador metropolitan area, with strong
gusty winds and hail in some areas," the environment ministry said.
 
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said all classes would be suspended
Monday.

Bonnie, which made landfall in Nicaragua overnight Friday to Saturday, is set
to drench southern Mexico with heavy rain, the NHC said.

Swells caused by the hurricane are to "cause life-threatening surf and rip
current conditions," its advisory said.