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Mexico coast braced for hurricane Mexico braced as hurricane nears
(38 minutes later)
Mexico's Pacific coast is braced for a category four hurricane which could develop into a category five, the top danger rating for a hurricane. Hurricane Jimena has grown into a maximum category-five storm that is threatening 20,000 families on Mexico's Baja peninsula, Mexican officials say.
By Monday afternoon, Hurricane Jimena had maximum sustained winds of nearly 250km/h (155mph). Jimena is packing winds of 250km/h (155mph), but should weaken before it makes landfall on Tuesday or Wednesday, the National Weather Service says.
It is set to reach the Baja California peninsula on Tuesday and move inland. Emergency officials were preparing evacuation plans for high-risk areas, as residents began boarding up homes.
An international finance conference due to open in the resort of Los Cabos on the peninsula has been switched inland to Mexico City instead. An international tax conference in the area was moved inland to Mexico City.
In La Paz, the southern capital of Baja California, residents rushed to board up windows and buy groceries before shops closed their doors as rain blew in, AFP news agency reports. Francisco Cota, the head of the civil protection agency in Los Cabos, said the evacuation plan would focus on the most densely-populated areas.
"It will place special emphasis on the more than 20,000 families who live in high-risk areas," he said.
'Storm surge'
In La Paz, the southern capital of Baja California, residents rushed to stockpile goods as the most powerful hurricane of the year - the only one to reach category five - approached, AFP news agency reports.
The US National Hurricane Center warned of a "storm surge along with large and dangerous battering waves" which could "produce significant coastal flooding along the Baja California peninsula".The US National Hurricane Center warned of a "storm surge along with large and dangerous battering waves" which could "produce significant coastal flooding along the Baja California peninsula".
It said "preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion". The agency said that although Jimena's strength would fluctuate over the next day or two, it was guaranteed to make landfall as a major hurricane.
The peninsula is largely desert and mountains but includes resorts and fishing villages.The peninsula is largely desert and mountains but includes resorts and fishing villages.
Flooding and landslides were reported in southern Mexican states as the hurricane churned its way up the country's Pacific coast.
The US issued an alert to American citizens, urging them to reconsider travelling to areas of Mexico and the United States lying in its path.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) conference on tax havens had been due to take place in Los Cabos on Tuesday and Wednesday.The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) conference on tax havens had been due to take place in Los Cabos on Tuesday and Wednesday.
It was "transferred to Mexico City because of the threat of severe damage posed by Hurricane Jimena", the OECD said.It was "transferred to Mexico City because of the threat of severe damage posed by Hurricane Jimena", the OECD said.
Francisco Cota, the head of the civil protection agency in Los Cabos, said any evacuation plan would focus on densely populated areas and valleys at most risk of flooding.
"It will place special emphasis on the more than 20,000 families who live in high-risk areas," he was quoted as saying by AFP.