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Hurricane Odile lashes Mexico's Baja California resort Hurricane Odile damages Mexico's Baja California resorts
(about 9 hours later)
Hurricane Odile has swept into the beach resorts of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, uprooting trees and confining tourists to their hotels. Hurricane Odile has left streets flooded, and homes and packed hotels destroyed in the beach resorts of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, triggering looting in some areas.
The storm eased from category three to two but still packed winds of up to 175km/h (110 mph). The storm has eased since Sunday from category four to one but still packed winds of up to 160km/h (100 mph).
Mexican authorities have declared an alert in the area, warning of storm surges, landslides and flooding. Mexican authorities are warning of more landslides and flooding in the coming days, as the storm moves northwest.
They have also prepared shelter for some 30,000 people.They have also prepared shelter for some 30,000 people.
The extent of the storm's impact was still not clear before daybreak, but media in the Los Cabos area reported people being injured by flying glass and power cables, and traffic signals down throughout the city. "The whole place is devastated, windows are trashed, trees and electricity poles are down," Mauricio Balderrama, manager of the Cabo Surf Hotel and Spa in San Jose del Cabo told Reuters, but confirmed his hotel guests were fine.
US Marines have been placed on standby to operate emergency equipment in case of landslides. On Monday dozens of people, including children, ransacked the shops for batteries and alcohol until troops arrived to stop the looting, agencies reported.
The US National Hurricane Center in Miami had predicted that Odile would be a category four hurricane, but it lost some strength as it reached the coast. "I'm taking water for the children and food for the baby. You never know what can happen tomorrow," 41-year-old Osvaldo Lopez told reporters, as he left one convenience store.
Forecasters said the storm was expected to slow as it moved north-west along the desert peninsula and would steadily weaken over the next two days. Scores of homes have been damaged in one poor neighbourhood on the peninsula, where electricity poles collapsed onto cars but no-one was hurt, correspondents say.
However, they warned that heavy rains could produce life-threatening floods. The US National Hurricane Center in Miami had predicted that Odile would be a category four hurricane, but it lost strength as it reached the coast.
Officials said electricity would be shut off in areas affected to avoid damage from power lines if they came down. Forecasters said the storm slowed to up to 20 km/h (13 mph), and would steadily weaken over the next two days.
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. However, even as it moved north-west up the desert peninsula, the NHC warned of more heavy rainfall and flooding on the northwest coast.
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 evacuated.
The region is home to massive resort complexes, as well as fishing communities and low-lying shanty towns.The region is home to massive resort complexes, as well as fishing communities and low-lying shanty towns.
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.