Storm death toll climbs to five in Mexico

Hermosillo (Mexico): The death toll from tropical storm Newton has climbed to five in Mexico, authorities said, with the downgraded hurricane weakening as it traveled over the US state of Arizona.

The five victims -- all fishermen -- were killed when their shrimp boat sank Tuesday as the storm crashed into the Baja California peninsula with hurricane force winds, the government said in a statement.

Officials had previously reported two dead and three missing in the mishap, which occurred between the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific.

Newton swept into northwestern Mexico early yesterday as a tropical storm, weakening as it moved north into southeastern Arizona, the US National Hurricane Center said.

It uprooted trees and shattered windows in Baja California's Los Cabos resort area, where thousands of tourists rode out the storm in their hotels.

But the region managed to escape major damage two years after Hurricane Odile ravaged Los Cabos, killing six people and causing damage worth USD 1 billion.