This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7665021.stm

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Norbert batters Mexican peninsula Hurricane batters Western Mexico
(about 4 hours later)
Hurricane Norbert has struck Mexico's Baja California Sur peninsula with heavy rains and 103mph (165km/h) winds.Hurricane Norbert has struck Mexico's Baja California Sur peninsula with heavy rains and 103mph (165km/h) winds.
The US National Hurricane Center said Norbert made landfall near the city of La Paz. The Category 2 hurricane made landfall near the city of La Paz, blowing down roofs and uptrooting trees. Residents have been fleeing to shelters.
"It's blowing down roofs and destroying things in its path," said civil protection chief Jose Gajon. Forecasters say Norbert will cross the Gulf of California, before making a second landfall on Mexico's north-western mainland.
Forecasters expect the Category 2 storm to cross the peninsula and make a second landfall on Saturday night on Mexico's north-western mainland. It is expected to hit the agricultural states of Sonora and Sinaloa.
Reports say the storm is creating 13ft (four-metre) waves. Reports say the storm is creating 13ft (4m) waves.
"We expect Norbert to move over the Baja California Sur peninsula later Saturday before it enters the Gulf of California and then hits Sonora state," the National Hurricane Center said.
People evacuatedPeople evacuated
Mr Gajon said about 1,000 people were in shelters in Baja California Sur and they expected more. Baja California Sur's civil protection chief, Jose Gajon, said about 1,000 people were in shelters and more were expected.
"If it is necessary, we will use authorities to take to shelters those who refuse to go," he said. "If it is necessary, we will use authorities to take to shelters those who refuse to go," he added.
Rescue teams have already evacuated people from homes made from wooden boards and sheet metal in low-lying areas.Rescue teams have already evacuated people from homes made from wooden boards and sheet metal in low-lying areas.
Residents fled to shelters as floodwaters rose in their homes. The wind uprooted palm trees and water rose knee-high in some streets of the town of Puerto San Carlos.
"We left our house because we were scared. Our house is pretty poor and the water was already coming in," said Maria Espinosa, 54, who arrived at a high school with her daughter and two grandchildren. "We left our house because we were scared. Our house is pretty poor and the water was already coming in," said Maria Espinosa, 54, who arrived at a school with her daughter and two grandchildren.
Earlier, meteorologists downgraded Hurricane Norbert from Category 3 to 2 but said it remains "life-threatening". Norbert is not expected to strengthen significantly as it crosses the Gulf of California, the US National Hurricane Center said.
"Preparations to protect life and property in the hurricane warning areas should be rushed to completion," said a public advisory from the National Hurricane Center in Miami. It is forecast to weaken once it moves into north-western Mexico on a path towards Arizona.
The hurricane's heavy rainfall could result in "life-threatening flash floods and mud slides", the centre warned. Earlier, meteorologists downgraded Hurricane Norbert from Category 3 to 2 but said it remained "life-threatening".
It added that storm surge flooding of up to five feet above normal tide levels and large and dangerous battering waves were also expected on the coast.