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Hurricane Odile makes landfall on Mexican coast Hurricane Odile makes landfall on Mexican coast
(35 minutes later)
Residents and tourists have spent the night in shelters and hotel conference rooms as the powerful hurricane Odile made landfall on the southern Baja California peninsula.Residents and tourists have spent the night in shelters and hotel conference rooms as the powerful hurricane Odile made landfall on the southern Baja California peninsula.
The area is home to mega-resorts, small fishing communities and low-lying neighbourhoods of flimsy homes. Weather forecasters predicted a dangerous storm surge to come, with large waves and heavy rain capable of causing landslides and flash floods. The area is home to mega-resorts, small fishing communities and low-lying neighbourhoods of flimsy homes. Weather forecasters have predicted a dangerous storm surge, with large waves and heavy rain capable of causing landslides and flash floods.
The US National Hurricane Centre in Miami said satellite imagery indicated the centre of Odilemade landfall at about 9.45pm near Cabo San Lucas. At that time the hurricane had an estimated intensity of 125mph (205kph), and an automated station near Cabo San Lucas reported a sustained wind of 89mph with gusts of up to 116 mph. The storm was moving north-northwest at 17mph. The US National Hurricane Centre in Miami said satellite imagery indicated the centre of Odile made landfall at about 9.45pm near Cabo San Lucas. At that time the hurricane had an estimated intensity of 125mph (205kph), and an automated station near the city reported a sustained wind of 89mph with gusts of up to 116mph. The storm was moving north-northwest at 17mph.
People bedded down in crowded, stuffy safe rooms in hotels. In one, near San Jose del Cabo, the power went out not long after nightfall and a generator was keeping minimal lights on. People bedded down in crowded, stuffy safe rooms in hotels. In one, near San José del Cabo, the power went out not long after nightfall and a generator was keeping minimal lights on.
Denise Mellor, a traveller from Orange County, California, said she was frustrated by the lack of information about the storm and said she was learning more from her daughter at home than from hotel staff.Denise Mellor, a traveller from Orange County, California, said she was frustrated by the lack of information about the storm and said she was learning more from her daughter at home than from hotel staff.
"It's a little bit [unsettling] that we don't have a choice but to sit in here and hope for the best," Mellor said. "So that makes me a little bit scared.""It's a little bit [unsettling] that we don't have a choice but to sit in here and hope for the best," Mellor said. "So that makes me a little bit scared."
Mexican authorities evacuated coastal areas and prepared shelters for up to 30,000 people. Mexican authorities evacuated coastal areas and prepared shelters for up to 30,000 people. "We are going to be hit, do not risk your life," warned Marcos Covarrubias, governor of Baja California Sur.
"We are going to be hit, do not risk your life," warned Marcos Covarrubias, the governor of Baja California Sur.
After reaching category 4 strength on Sunday, Odile weakened to category 3 but was still a major storm. The US Hurricane Centre warned of possible coastal flooding and rainfall of 5-10in, with isolated amounts up to 15in.After reaching category 4 strength on Sunday, Odile weakened to category 3 but was still a major storm. The US Hurricane Centre warned of possible coastal flooding and rainfall of 5-10in, with isolated amounts up to 15in.
On Sunday, police with megaphones walked through vulnerable areas in Cabo San Lucas urging people to evacuate.On Sunday, police with megaphones walked through vulnerable areas in Cabo San Lucas urging people to evacuate.
"I'm leaving. It's very dangerous here," said Felipa Flores, clutching a plastic bag with a few belongings as she took her two small children from El Caribe to a storm shelter. "Later on we're going to be cut off and my house of wood and laminated cardboard won't stand up to much.""I'm leaving. It's very dangerous here," said Felipa Flores, clutching a plastic bag with a few belongings as she took her two small children from El Caribe to a storm shelter. "Later on we're going to be cut off and my house of wood and laminated cardboard won't stand up to much."
At least 22 airline flights were cancelled. Some tourists camped out at the Los Cabos international airport hoping to get out before the storm, but the facility shut down all air operations late in the afternoon. At least 22 flights were cancelled. Some tourists camped out at the Los Cabos international airport hoping to get out before the storm, but the facility shut its operations late in the afternoon.
Luis Felipe Puente, the national coordinator for Mexico's civil protection agency, said 164 shelters had been prepared for as many as 30,000 people in Baja California Sur. Luis Felipe Puente, the national coordinator for Mexico's civil protection agency, said 164 shelters had been prepared for up to 30,000 people in Baja California Sur.
A hurricane warning was in effect from Punta Abreojos to Loreto. Mexican authorities declared a maximum alert for areas in or near Odile's path, and ports in Baja California were ordered closed. A hurricane warning was in effect from Punta Abreojos to Loreto. Mexican authorities declared a maximum alert for areas in or near Odile's path, and ports in Baja California were closed.
In the central Atlantic, hurricane Edouard had sustained winds near 85mph, although it was forecast to remain far out at sea and pose no threat to land. In the central Atlantic, hurricane Edouard had sustained winds near 85mph, although it was forecast to remain far out at sea and pose no threat to land. Its centre was 835 miles north-east of the northern Leeward Islands and was moving north-west at 15mph.
Edouard's centre was 835 miles north-east of the northern Leeward Islands and was moving north-west at 15mph.