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| Mexicans await 'potentially catastrophic' Hurricane Patricia | Mexicans await 'potentially catastrophic' Hurricane Patricia |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Mexican authorities have begun moving residents and closing ports in parts of the country's Pacific coast ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Patricia. | Mexican authorities have begun moving residents and closing ports in parts of the country's Pacific coast ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Patricia. |
| Officials have warned that the category five storm could be the strongest ever to hit Mexico's Pacific coast. | Officials have warned that the category five storm could be the strongest ever to hit Mexico's Pacific coast. |
| A state of emergency has been declared in three states in Patricia's path. | |
| The hurricane is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening, with winds of up to 200 mph (325km/h). | |
| The US National Hurricane Center said Patricia was "potentially catastrophic". | |
| Some 400,000 people live in vulnerable areas, according to Mexico's National Disaster Fund. | Some 400,000 people live in vulnerable areas, according to Mexico's National Disaster Fund. |
| The hurricane, which will bring torrential rain, could trigger flash floods and mudslides, the US centre said. | The hurricane, which will bring torrential rain, could trigger flash floods and mudslides, the US centre said. |
| It also warned of potential flooding from the sea. | It also warned of potential flooding from the sea. |
| According to forecasters, Patricia will make landfall in the western state of Jalisco, home to the resort town of Puerto Vallarta, which could lie directly in its path. | According to forecasters, Patricia will make landfall in the western state of Jalisco, home to the resort town of Puerto Vallarta, which could lie directly in its path. |
| Schools have been closed in Jalisco, Colima and Guerrero states. | |
| Shelters that can accommodate 259,000 people are available, the government says. | |
| Shop owners in Manzanillo, a major port in neighbouring Colima state, have begun boarding up windows. | Shop owners in Manzanillo, a major port in neighbouring Colima state, have begun boarding up windows. |
| "[It's] better to be safe than sorry. Hurricanes are unpredictable," furniture store manager Enrique Esparza told AFP. | "[It's] better to be safe than sorry. Hurricanes are unpredictable," furniture store manager Enrique Esparza told AFP. |
| Residents have also begun stocking up on food and other supplies. | |
| Heavy rains often leads to flooding in the town, said Alejandra Rodriguez, who was shopping at Wal-Mart in Manzanillo with her brother and mother. | |
| "It ends up like an island," she said. | |
| Mexico has to deal with tropical storms from both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans at this time of year. |