The Island’s honorary consul of Mexico has cautiously welcomed the news that compatriots at home fared better than anticipated after Hurricane Patricia lashed the country at the weekend.

The storm had been billed as the most powerful registered as it approached Mexico on Friday evening, with forecasters fearing thousands of fatalities.

However, media reports from Mexico and the United States indicate that six deaths have been reported so far and much of Mexico’s major infrastructure survived intact.

The Bermuda consul to Mexico, Rod Attride-Stirling, told ‘The Royal Gazette’ he was still trying to gather information from Mexico about the after-effects of the hurricane.

“From what we have heard the outcome was not nearly as bad as predicted,” he said. “It appears the storm did some damage.

“I am made to understand that the Government implemented a high-level emergency preparation programme which was a tremendous success. Tens of thousands of people were evacuated from their homes.”

More than 1,000 shelters were set up to house those evacuated and in need of shelter.

Mr Attride-Stirling said: “It seems the Government’s careful planning bore fruit and resulted in lives being saved.

“We in Bermuda understand what it means to be threatened by, and to take precautions against, severe storms and hurricanes.

“All of us in Bermuda, both in the Mexican community and the wider Bermudian community, are gladdened to hear that there was some good news from Mexico.

“Our thoughts are with those who suffered and continue to suffer from the effects of the storm and its after-effects and while the clean-up takes place.”