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Mexico braced as hurricane nears Huge storm nears Mexican resorts
(about 7 hours later)
Hurricane Jimena has grown into a maximum category-five storm that is threatening 20,000 families on Mexico's Baja peninsula, Mexican officials say. Mexico's Baja California peninsula is on alert as Hurricane Jimena nears, packing winds of 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. The storm is just below the maximum category five strength, according to the US National Hurricane Center.
Emergency officials were preparing evacuation plans for high-risk areas, as residents began boarding up homes. Jimena is expected to reach the Los Cabos resort area later on Tuesday or early Wednesday, forecasters say.
An international tax conference in the area was moved inland to Mexico City. Residents have been boarding up homes and schools are closed, and emergency officials are urging people to leave the areas most at risk from the storm.
Francisco Cota, the head of the civil protection agency in Los Cabos, said the evacuation plan would focus on the most densely-populated areas. Francisco Cota, the head of the civil protection agency in Los Cabos, said evacuation plans 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."It will place special emphasis on the more than 20,000 families who live in high-risk areas," he said.
'Storm surge' Stockpile goods
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. Police, firefighters and navy personnel have been going through slum areas to try to persuade people to leave their flimsy shacks, AP reported.
"For the safety of you and your family, board a vehicle or head to the nearest shelter," firefighter Ricardo Villalobos said through a loudspeaker. But few seemed keen to leave.
Many tourists, meanwhile, have been heading out of the area rather than spend a couple of days in a storm shelter.
In La Paz, the capital of the state of Baja California Sur, residents rushed to stockpile goods as the most powerful hurricane of the year so far approached, AFP news agency reported.
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".
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 agency said that although Jimena's strength was likely to fluctuate, it would 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 also has 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 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 Co-operation 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.
Do you live on the Baja peninsula? Are you moving out of the area to avoid Jimena or are you planning to stay in the area and brace for the hurricane? Have you been stocking up on supplies? Let us know if you are about to be affected by the events in this story by filling in the form below.Do you live on the Baja peninsula? Are you moving out of the area to avoid Jimena or are you planning to stay in the area and brace for the hurricane? Have you been stocking up on supplies? Let us know if you are about to be affected by the events in this story by filling in the form below.
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