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| Hurricane Patricia: Mexico awaits 'strongest ever' storm | Hurricane Patricia: Mexico awaits 'strongest ever' storm |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The strongest hurricane recorded in the Western hemisphere 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 hurricane is comparable with Typhoon Haiyan, which killed 6,300 people in the Philippines in 2013, the World Meteorological Organization says. | The hurricane is comparable with 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 on Friday afternoon or evening, with winds of 200mph (325km/h). | The category five hurricane is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon or evening, with winds of 200mph (325km/h). |
| The US National Hurricane Center said Patricia was "potentially catastrophic" and the strongest storm it had recorded in the eastern Pacific or the Atlantic. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. |
| Schools have been closed in Jalisco, Colima and Guerrero states. | Schools have been closed in Jalisco, Colima and Guerrero states. |
| Shelters that can accommodate 259,000 people are available, the government says. | 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 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 begun stocking up on food and other supplies. | 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. | 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. | "It ends up like an island," she said. |
| 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. |
| Are you in the region? How are you preparing for Hurricane Patricia? If you have any information to share with the BBC, you can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you in the region? How are you preparing for Hurricane Patricia? If you have any information to share with the BBC, you can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| When sending us pictures, video or eyewitness accounts at no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | When sending us pictures, video or eyewitness accounts at no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
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