MEXICO CITY — At least three people have died after a powerful hurricane caused heavy rains, flash flooding and landslides in western Mexico.

Roslyn, a category 3 hurricane, came ashore on Mexico's Pacific shore with maximum winds of 195km/h (120mph).

The hurricane has since been downgraded to a tropical cyclone but a risk of floods remains.

Images of its aftermath showed flooded roads and upturned vehicles as well as damaged homes.

An elderly man died when a beam from a roof fell on him and two women were killed by collapsing buildings.

The worst-affected area was Tecuala, in Nayarit state. Further south along the coast in Sayulita, people were pictured wading through and clearing mud from the streets in the area.

Flash flooding and power outages also hit the town of Puerto Vallarta in neighboring Jalisco state, but only minor damage was caused, according to the state's governor.

Enrique Alfaro Ramírez said people who had been evacuated from the area had since started returning to their homes. Flights had also resumed, he said.

He added, however, that beaches would remain closed for the time being.

Prior to the hurricane's landfall on Sunday, more than a dozen municipalities in Nayarit and Jalisco set up emergency shelters for those who had been evacuated.

In May, 11 people were killed after Hurricane Agatha struck southwestern Oaxaca state.

Scientists from the US weather service have predicted a very active hurricane season for this year with above average numbers of named storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes. — BBC