MAZATLAN, MEXICO (AP) – Hurricane Orlene swept toward landfall on Mexico’s Pacific coast near the tourist town of Mazatlan yesterday.
Orlene lost some strength after roaring over the Islas Maria, a former prison colony being developed as a tourist draw. The main island is sparsely populated, mainly by government employees, and most buildings there are made of brick or concrete.
The hurricane’s winds slipped back to 155 kilometres per hour (kph) yesterday, according to the United States (US) National Hurricane Centre.
Authorities along the coast suspended classes, closed seaports and set up shelters, and rain was falling in Mazatlan.
By yesterday morning, Orlene was centred about 120 kilometres (km) south of Mazatlan and was headed north at 15kph.
A hurricane warning was in effect from San Blas to Mazatlan.
The government of Jalisco state, where Puerto Vallarta is located, suspended classes yesterday in towns and cities along the coast. In Sinaloa, where Mazatlan is located, some emergency shelters were opened.
The centre said the storm would likely begin weakening as it moved closer to land. But it was still projected to hit as a hurricane.
It could bring flood-inducing rainfall of up to 25 centimetres in some places, as well as coastal flooding and dangerous surf.
The ports of Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta were closed to ships and Mexico’s navy announced that ports including Mazatlan, San Blas and Nuevo Vallarta were closed to small craft.
Mexico’s National Water Commission said Orlene could cause “mudslides, rising river and stream levels, and flooding in low-lying areas”.
The hurricane centre said hurricane-force winds extended out about 30km from the centre and tropical storm-force winds out to 110km.
The storm peaked on Sunday at Category 4 force with maximum sustained winds of 215kph.
