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Hurricane batters Mexican coast Hurricane batters Mexican coast
(about 4 hours later)
Hurricane John has struck Mexico's Baja California peninsula with gusting winds and heavy rains, forcing locals and tourists to hunker down in shelters.Hurricane John has struck Mexico's Baja California peninsula with gusting winds and heavy rains, forcing locals and tourists to hunker down in shelters.
Major resorts on the peninsula's southern tip escaped a direct hit from John's 105 mph (165 km/h) winds.Major resorts on the peninsula's southern tip escaped a direct hit from John's 105 mph (165 km/h) winds.
But the category two hurricane is moving towards the state capital, La Paz, home to about 200,000 people, where some roads are already flooded. The storm weakened to a category one hurricane as it knocked out electricity and downed trees in the state capital, La Paz, home to about 200,000 people.
Forecasters were warning of flash floods, landslides and sea surges.Forecasters were warning of flash floods, landslides and sea surges.
The hurricane made landfall north of the glitzy resorts of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.The hurricane made landfall north of the glitzy resorts of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo.
"Fortunately... we don't have a direct hit," local mayor Luis Armando Diaz, told the Associated Press. Its winds had weakened to near 80 m/ph (130 km/h) on Saturday morning.
The Mexican authorities were on full alert, amid warnings the storm could be the worst to hit the peninsula in a decade. The Mexican authorities were on full alert, amid earlier warnings the storm could be the worst to hit the peninsula in a decade.
At 2300 local time (0600 GMT) the hurricane was 40 miles (65km) south-east of La Paz, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center said.
Scramble to leaveScramble to leave
People with homes in low-lying areas crowded into temporary shelters.People with homes in low-lying areas crowded into temporary shelters.
"Nobody is leaving until the red alert is lifted," David Manriquez from the civil protection agency in Los Cabos told Reuters. "That might happen Saturday morning.""Nobody is leaving until the red alert is lifted," David Manriquez from the civil protection agency in Los Cabos told Reuters. "That might happen Saturday morning."
Earlier, as the storm moved in on the resort towns of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, residents queued to buy petrol and essential supplies.Earlier, as the storm moved in on the resort towns of Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo, residents queued to buy petrol and essential supplies.
In pictures: Mexico prepares Have you been affected?In pictures: Mexico prepares Have you been affected?
Shop owners and businesses in the area boarded up windows to protect them against the hurricane.Shop owners and businesses in the area boarded up windows to protect them against the hurricane.
Hundreds of tourists scrambled to leave the resorts, most of them heading back to homes in the US.Hundreds of tourists scrambled to leave the resorts, most of them heading back to homes in the US.
A Mexican tourism official, Alberto Trevino, said visitors who had chosen to remain were relocated within hotels.A Mexican tourism official, Alberto Trevino, said visitors who had chosen to remain were relocated within hotels.
"Some hotels have appropriate facilities, ballrooms or rooms that are safer and they are moving their tourists there," he told the Associated Press news agency."Some hotels have appropriate facilities, ballrooms or rooms that are safer and they are moving their tourists there," he told the Associated Press news agency.
Hurricane John has fluctuated in strength, and weakened slightly in the hours before it made landfall, but there were still warnings of heavy rainfall and dangerous sea surges.
The hurricane is expected to move up the peninsula and then out west over the Pacific Ocean and dissipate, posing no threat to the US.The hurricane is expected to move up the peninsula and then out west over the Pacific Ocean and dissipate, posing no threat to the US.
Are you in Mexico? Are you preparing for the arrival of Hurricane John? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you in Mexico? Are you preparing for the arrival of Hurricane John? Send us your comments using the form below.
If you have pictures or moving footage you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100. You should not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.If you have pictures or moving footage you can send them to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100. You should not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and videoClick here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video
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