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Hurricane Odile heads for Mexico's Baja California Hurricane Odile lashes Mexico's Baja California resort
(about 1 hour later)
A hurricane will hit the southern end of Mexico's Baja California peninsula in the coming hours, the United States National Hurricane Centre says. Hurricane Odile has hit the resort of Los Cabos in western Mexico, uprooting trees and confining thousands of holidaymakers to their hotels.
Officials described the storm, named Odile, as highly dangerous. The storm - rated category three, with winds of up to 200km/h (125 mph) made landfall on the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
The Mexican authorities have declared a maximum alert for the region and have prepared shelters for up to 30,000 people around the tourist resort of Los Cabos. Mexican authorities have declared an alert in the area, warning of storm surges, landslides and flooding.
US Marines have been placed on standby to help out. They have also prepared shelter for some 30,000 people.
Residents and businesses were preparing as Hurricane Odile raced towards the peninsula. US Marines have been placed on stand-by to operate emergency equipment in case of landslides.
The centre said Odile was initially a category four hurricane, with winds of up to 135 mph, but it lost some strength and was expected to be a category three when it made landfall on Sunday night. The US National Hurricane Center in Miami had earlier said Odile would be a category four hurricane, with winds of up to 135 mph, but it lost some strength as it reached the coast.
In the Los Cabos resort, the authorities warned people to stay off the beach, remain indoors and keep away from doors and windows. Officials said electricity would be shut off in the area to avoid damage from power lines if they came down.
Officials said electricity would be shut off in the area as the storm hit to avoid damage from power lines if they came down.
At least 26,000 foreign tourists and 4,000 Mexicans were in the region, local officials said, and those in areas at risk of flooding were being evacuated.At least 26,000 foreign tourists and 4,000 Mexicans were in the region, local officials said, and those in areas at risk of flooding were being evacuated.
The region is home to massive resort complexes, as well as fishing communities and low-lying shantytowns.
Los Cabos resident Felipa Flores said she was heading for a shelter. "Later on we're going to be cut off and my house of wood and laminated cardboard won't stand up to much," she told the Associated Press news agency.
Luis Puente, the head of Mexico's civil protection agency, told reporters that 164 shelters had been readied with a capacity for 30,000 people.Luis Puente, the head of Mexico's civil protection agency, told reporters that 164 shelters had been readied with a capacity for 30,000 people.
Storm experts said it was set to be the strongest hurricane to hit the southern tip of the peninsula since Kiko in 1989, which landed as a category three.Storm experts said it was set to be the strongest hurricane to hit the southern tip of the peninsula since Kiko in 1989, which landed as a category three.
"We haven't seen one get so close and with the possibility of impact, and of such a nature," said Wenceslao Petit, head of emergency services in Los Cabos. "There aren't words for this." Are you in Baja California? Have you prepared for the storm? You can email your comments to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.