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| Hurricane Patricia: Mexico awaits 'strongest ever' storm | Hurricane Patricia: Mexico awaits 'strongest ever' storm |
| (6 months later) | |
| The strongest hurricane ever recorded is bearing down on Mexico's Pacific coast, threatening a "potentially catastrophic" landfall. | The strongest hurricane ever recorded is bearing down on Mexico's Pacific coast, threatening a "potentially catastrophic" landfall. |
| Mexican authorities have begun evacuating residents ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Patricia. | Mexican authorities have begun evacuating residents ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Patricia. |
| The storm is comparable to Typhoon Haiyan, which killed 6,300 people in the Philippines in 2013, the World Meteorological Organization says. | The storm is comparable to Typhoon Haiyan, which killed 6,300 people in the Philippines in 2013, the World Meteorological Organization says. |
| A state of emergency has been declared in three states in Patricia's path. | A state of emergency has been declared in three states in Patricia's path. |
| The category five hurricane is expected to make landfall in the next few hours, with winds of 305km/h (190mph). | The category five hurricane is expected to make landfall in the next few hours, with winds of 305km/h (190mph). |
| Video filmed in the port town of Manzanillo at 17:00 local time (22:00 GMT) shows trees bending in severe wind. | Video filmed in the port town of Manzanillo at 17:00 local time (22:00 GMT) shows trees bending in severe wind. |
| Live updates | Live updates |
| Hurricane Patricia: Key questions | Hurricane Patricia: Key questions |
| The US National Hurricane Center said on its website: "Potentially catastrophic Hurricane Patricia should make landfall in Mexico in the next several hours." | The US National Hurricane Center said on its website: "Potentially catastrophic Hurricane Patricia should make landfall in Mexico in the next several hours." |
| The centre added that it was the strongest storm it had recorded in the eastern Pacific or the Atlantic. | The centre added that it was the strongest storm it had recorded in the eastern Pacific or the Atlantic. |
| It has already produced the third lowest barometer reading ever recorded - a pressure of 880 millibars at the centre of the storm - the centre reported. | It has already produced the third lowest barometer reading ever recorded - a pressure of 880 millibars at the centre of the storm - the centre reported. |
| 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 and destructive waves. | It also warned of potential flooding from the sea and destructive waves. |
| The hurricane's winds are strong enough "to get a plane in the air and keep it flying", World Meteorological Organization spokeswoman Claire Nullis said. | The hurricane's winds are strong enough "to get a plane in the air and keep it flying", World Meteorological Organization spokeswoman Claire Nullis said. |
| BBC Earth explains: What is a hurricane? | BBC Earth explains: What is a hurricane? |
| 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. |
| Police patrols in the resort urged people to leave the shorefront for safer areas at least three blocks inland, while loudspeakers ordered hotel residents to evacuate. | Police patrols in the resort urged people to leave the shorefront for safer areas at least three blocks inland, while loudspeakers ordered hotel residents to evacuate. |
| The town's airport, along with two others in the path of the storm, were closed. | The town's airport, along with two others in the path of the storm, were closed. |
| Schools have been closed in Jalisco, Colima and Guerrero states. | Schools have been closed in Jalisco, Colima and Guerrero states. |
| Shop owners in Manzanillo, a major port in neighbouring Colima state, have boarded up windows. | Shop owners in Manzanillo, a major port in neighbouring Colima state, have boarded up windows. |
| "[It's] better to be safe than sorry. Hurricanes are unpredictable," furniture store manager Enrique Esparza told AFP news agency. | "[It's] better to be safe than sorry. Hurricanes are unpredictable," furniture store manager Enrique Esparza told AFP news agency. |
| Residents have also been stocking up on food and other supplies. | Residents have also been stocking up on food and other supplies. |
| Heavy rains often lead to flooding in the town, said Alejandra Rodriguez, who was shopping at Wal-Mart in Manzanillo with her brother and mother. | Heavy rains often lead 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. | "It ends up like an island," she said. |
| Some rural areas are prone to landslides and flooding. The government has warned that ash from the nearby Colima volcano, which has become increasingly active this year, could combine with heavy rainfall to trigger huge mudflows. | Some rural areas are prone to landslides and flooding. The government has warned that ash from the nearby Colima volcano, which has become increasingly active this year, could combine with heavy rainfall to trigger huge mudflows. |
| Mexico has to deal with tropical storms arriving from both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans at this time of year. | Mexico has to deal with tropical storms arriving from both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans at this time of year. |
| Some of the most powerful storms in recent years | Some of the most powerful storms in recent years |
| Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones are all part of the same weather phenomenon but different names are used depending on where the storms are formed. Hurricanes form east of the International Date Line, while typhoons and cyclones form to the west. | Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones are all part of the same weather phenomenon but different names are used depending on where the storms are formed. Hurricanes form east of the International Date Line, while typhoons and cyclones form to the west. |