- Title: MEXICO: Hurricane Karl dumps heavy rains and winds on Mexico
- Date: 18th September 2010
- Summary: VERACRUZ, MEXICO (SEPTEMBER 16, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FALLEN TREES, LAMPPOSTS AND VEHICLES AS RAIN POURS DOWN VARIOUS OF DAMAGE TO ROOF OF BUILDING AS RAIN COMES DOWN VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC IN DARK STREETS, WIND AND RAIN PALM TREES, SIGNS AND POWER LINES BLOWING IN THE WIND TOPPLED TREES STATUE IN THE WIND AND RAIN PALM TREES IN WIND AND RAIN
- Embargoed: 3rd October 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Mexico
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Weather
- Reuters ID: LVABOLWS6SZ0QNL1G90NTO3N46PC
- Story Text: Hurricane Karl hit Mexico's central Gulf Coast on Friday (September 17), threatening to cause flash floods and mudslides but weakening as it moved ashore.
The storm appeared to have spared Mexican oil operations from major damage after sweeping through the Bay of Campeche, where Mexico produces more than two-thirds of its 2.55 million barrels per day of crude output.
Karl, projected to produce a storm surge of as much as 15 feet above normal tide levels, made landfall about 10 miles (15 km) north of the port city of Veracruz on Friday before noon, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.
Karl, which weakened from a Category 3 to Category 2 storm as it moved ashore, was blowing sustained winds of up to 110 miles per hour (175 kph).
The government ordered evacuations of low-lying areas in the important shipping port of Veracruz, which is also a popular destination for Mexican tourists.
More than 1,000 people were already in shelters, a state civil protection official told W Radio. Operations were suspended at Mexico's only nuclear power plant, which lay in Karl's path, officials said.
The southern part of Veracruz has already suffered extensive flooding this year and Veracruz's state governor, Fidel Herrera, warned of high winds and water.
Mexican authorities are experienced at evacuating people caught in the path of hurricanes and death tolls caused by hurricanes hitting Mexico are usually low. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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