Hurricane weakens on Mexico coast

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Strong wind and rain batters the coast of Mexico

Hurricane Jimena has weakened, hours after it crashed into Mexico's Baja California peninsula forcing thousands of residents and tourists to flee.

Jimena had eased off before it hit land and weakened to a category one storm afterwards, US disaster officials said.

But it still brought heavy rain and winds of 100km/h (65mph), and fears of deadly mudslides and flash floods.

The storm is forecast to weaken further as it travels north before heading out to the Pacific Ocean by late Thursday.

Two of Baja California's three international airports have now re-opened along with some shops and businesses.

Seventy-five percent of homes have been affected Humberto Arias of Puerto San Carlos

At the height of the storm, more than 11,000 people took refuge in shelters, the federal government said.

Many residents in the fishing village of Puerto San Carlos ignored calls to evacuate their homes, turning to local schools serving as make-shift shelters as the eye of the storm passed over.

They returned to find streets turned to mud, roofs gone from their homes, power and communication lines down and felled trees, poles and billboards.

"Seventy-five percent of homes have been affected," town official Humberto Arias was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.

One fisherman from San Buto has been missing since late Tuesday, a local civil protection official told the AFP. No other injuries or fatalities were reported.

Although the storm's centre swerved past Baja California's resort-rich southern tip, it still caused widespread flooding there.

The US National Hurricane Center has warned that up to 38cm (15in) could be expected in some areas of western Mexico over the next 48 hours, producing "life-threatening flash floods and mud slides".

Supplies

Ahead of the storm on Wednesday, families huddled in a darkened school under dark grey skies in a slum north of the tourist resort of Los Cabos after electricity failed.

"People are really worried," said Ilda Ramirez, 33, who lives in a shack made from cardboard and scrap materials.

"I know we could end up losing everything," she told Reuters news agency.

Thousands of tourists left before the hurricane hit, leaving many resorts looking deserted.

Rescue workers from the Red Cross and Mexican military were preparing for post-hurricane relief, and two army cargo planes have flown in medical supplies.

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