MEXICO: Dangerous Category 4 Hurricane Jimena heads for Mexican resort of Los Cabos

Record ID: 300895

  • Title: MEXICO: Dangerous Category 4 Hurricane Jimena heads for Mexican resort of Los Cabos
  • Date: 1st September 2009
  • Summary: LOS CABOS, BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR, MEXICO (AUGUST 31, 2009) (REUTERS) CONTROL TOWER AT LOS CABOS AIRPORT EXTERIOR OF LOS CABOS AIRPORT TOURISTS ARRIVING AT AIRPORT SIGN FOR DEPARTURES MORE OF TOURISTS ARRIVING AT AIRPORT (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRADLEY, A TOURIST FROM LONDON, SAYING: "I think everyone's panicking and wanting to go home, I think. Maybe it's going to pass,
  • Embargoed: 16th September 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Weather
  • Reuters ID: LVABZ18Z962I43GQ920CPQ1JYDH1
  • Story Text: Many tourists cut their holidays short and head home from the Mexican resort of Los Cabos as Hurricane Jimena, a dangerous Category 4 storm, churns toward Mexico's Baja California peninsula.
    Hurricane Jimena, a dangerous Category 4 storm, churned toward Mexico's Baja California peninsula on Monday (August 31), headed for the upscale Los Cabos resort where residents sandbagged their homes and tourists stocked up on food.
    Jimena, which built up fast over the weekend, got even stronger, packing 150 mph (240 kph) winds with higher gusts. According to the five-step Saffir-Simpson intensity scale, Category 4 hurricanes are "extremely dangerous" and can cause devastating damage if they hit land.
    The storm's approach has led many tourists to pack their bags and head home.
    "I think everyone's panicking and wanting to go home, I think. Maybe it's going to pass, maybe it's going to hit, I don't know what's the general news. I think it should pass hopefully so everyone will be safe. That's the main thing," said Bradley, a tourist from London, at Los Cabos airport.
    "I'm staying in Los Mananitas. I'm not a resident, I'm kind of like a part-time resident I guess, on vacation. But I'm not afraid of the hurricane, I think it will be fine," added another tourist from Washington state, Ben.
    Much of Baja California is sparsely populated desert and mountains but Los Cabos is a lively resort area popular with U.S. tourists for its world-class golf courses, yachting and beaches.
    The U.S. National Hurricane Center forecast Jimena would hit the area on Tuesday (September 1) and move inland on Wednesday.
    Los Cabos, at the tip of the peninsula, was overcast and drizzly and many residents began to stock up on food and gas ahead of the arrival of the storm.
    "I'm not that scared because I live in a secure area. However, there are many families who live in risk areas ... this will affect them a lot," said Los Cabos resident Juan Garcia.
    Cars could also be seen lining up outside gas stations as motorists decided to take no risks and stock up on emergency supplies.
    "You have to get hold of necessities and secure everything, especially at home," said Cecilio Barrera, who lives in Los Cabos.
    The port of Cabo San Lucas was shut and a line of trailers formed as yachts, water taxis and glass-bottomed tourist boats were taken out of the water for safety.
    Mexico issued a hurricane warning for the area. The hurricane center predicted significant coastal flooding and said: "Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion."
    Economy officials from dozens of countries were due to meet in Los Cabos on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss tax havens, but the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development moved the talks to Mexico City as the storm threat grew.
    The meeting was "transferred to Mexico City because of the threat of severe damage posed by Hurricane Jimena," the Paris-based group said in a statement.
    The length of the Baja California peninsula is popular with U.S. camper van enthusiasts, nature lovers, surfers, sports fishermen and retirees.
    The hurricane center said Jimena could dump 5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 cm) of rain on the southern portion of Baja California.
    Jimena was located about 340 miles (545 km) south of Cabo San Lucas and moving northwest, roughly parallel to the Mexican coastline, at 8 mph (13 kph). Hurricane force winds extended outward up to 30 miles (45 km) from its center.
    Mexico has no oil installations in the Pacific and ports in the area remained open.
    Jimena is the second hurricane of the 2009 eastern Pacific season to brush close to Mexico after Andres pounded the coast in June and swept a fisherman to his death in Acapulco.
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