MEXICO-STORM/PATRICIA-UPDATE Hurricane Patricia threatens Mexico as one of strongest storms ever

Record ID: 135440

  • Title: MEXICO-STORM/PATRICIA-UPDATE Hurricane Patricia threatens Mexico as one of strongest storms ever
  • Date: 23rd October 2015
  • Summary: MALEQUE, MEXICO (OCTOBER 23, 2015) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF BEACH, WAVES POUNDING VARIOUS OF WAVES POUNDING BEACH, ONLOOKERS VARIOUS MORE OF WAVES POUNDING BEACH LOCAL BUSINESS WITH TAPE ON WINDOWS VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF LOCAL BUSINESS WITH TAPE ON WINDOWS AND SANDBAGS OUTSIDE THE DOOR GENERAL VIEW OF POLICE OFFICERS STANDING BY VEHICLES GENERAL VIEW OF EXTERIOR OF STATE
  • Embargoed: 7th November 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9PN1KDP7WWLW877ITAQPTCZPO
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
    Hurricane Patricia strengthened into one of the most powerful storms in history on Friday (October 23) as it barrelled toward Mexico's Pacific Coast, forcing resort hotels to evacuate guests and residents to stockpile supplies.
    The National Hurricane Centre said Patricia was the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere, and on a par with Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which ravaged the Philippines, killing thousands.
    Loudspeakers along the shore of the resort of Puerto Vallarta blared orders to evacuate hotels as a light rain fell and a slight breeze ruffled palm trees. The streets emptied as police sirens wailed.
    The city's airport was closed on Friday morning. Local schools were also closed and some business owners were busy boarding and taping up windows.
    In Jalisco state, officials from the national civil protection brigade said they were prepared for the storm to make landfall as early as 15:30 local time.
    "The forecast that we have indicates the possibility of the storm making landfall in Jalisco at 15:30 (local time) (2000gmt). It is very possible that it will happen like that or it could actually come ashore earlier but we are ready to have everything prepared between 13:00 or 13:30 in the afternoon (local time) (1800gmt)," the Director of Civil Protection Unit of Jalisco State, Major Trinidad Lopez Rivas told Reuters.
    The storm grew at an "incredible rate" in the past 12 hours, the World Meteorological Organization said, becoming a hurricane overnight with maximum sustained winds of about 200 miles per hour (325 km per hour) as it moved toward the north-northwest at 12 mph (19 kph).
    Typhoon Haiyan killed more than 6,300 people and wiped out or damaged practically everything in its path as it swept ashore on Nov. 8, 2013, destroying around 90 percent of the city of Tacloban.
    The strongest storm ever recorded was Cyclone Tip which hit Japan in 1979.
    Patricia was last located about 145 miles (235 km) south-southwest of the port of Manzanillo, where a hurricane warning had been issued. A hurricane warning was also in effect for the beach resort of Puerto Vallarta.
    It is a Category 5 hurricane, the highest rating possible, and was expected to make landfall as an "extremely dangerous" storm on Friday afternoon or evening, the Miami-based hurricane centre said earlier.
    Mexican emergency officials prepared shelters and warned people in the states of Colima, Jalisco and Michoacan to prepare for torrential rainfalls.
    The U.S. government issued an advisory urging its nationals to steer clear of beaches and rough seas and to take shelter as instructed by Mexican officials.
    Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo are key cargo ports, and both were shut as the storm approached, port officials said.
    None of the major installations of Mexican state oil company Pemex lie in the projected path of the storm.
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