Hurricane Odile closes in on Mexican resort area
Storm prompts evacuations, flight cancellations
CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico – A powerful Hurricane Odile closed in on the resort area of Los Cabos on Sunday night as Mexican authorities evacuated vulnerable coastal areas and readied shelters for up to 30,000 people.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Odile’s core was on a track to cross onto the south end of Baja California late Sunday and move near or over the southern portion of the peninsula today and Tuesday.
Rain was falling by midafternoon, hours before the storm’s expected arrival. Gusty winds whipped palm trees, waves pounded the rocky shore and fluttering black flags signaled that beaches were closed due to high surf.
Odile’s maximum sustained winds were 125 Sunday night, after being as high as 135 mph earlier in the day. Its center was about 30 miles south-southeast of the southern tip of Baja California and moving to the north-northwest at 17 mph.
“We are going to be hit, do not risk your life,” warned Marcos Covarrubias, governor of Baja California Sur.
After reaching Category 4 strength earlier Sunday, Odile weakened some to Category 3. But it was still a major storm that threatened to bring high winds, deadly surf and heavy rains to Baja and parts of the mainland, and forecasters said it could strengthen again.
Some 800 marines were on standby, and officials readied heavy equipment to help out in areas where mudslides could occur. 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 her neighborhood of 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.”
Long lines formed at gas stations and supermarkets as residents stocked up on food, bottled water, flashlights and batteries.
At least 22 airline flights were canceled, and some tourists said they were stranded. Others 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.