Mexico on alert as hurricane presses near

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Mexico on alert as hurricane presses near

(Xinhua) 14:58, October 21, 2013

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MEXICO CITY, Oct. 20 -- Mexico's Civil Protection Department has activated an orange alert as Hurricane Raymond approached the southern states of Guerrero and Michoacan, local authorities said Sunday.

The rain "in next 72 hours in the Mexican Pacific coast will be very strong," David Korenfeld, director of the National Water Commission, told a press conference.

In the state of Guerrero, 81 municipalities have been alerted, evacuating flood plains and unstable slopes, said Constantino Gonzalez Vargas, head of the state's Civil Protection Department.

"The storm has evolved rapidly. We have called the inhabitants of coastal areas to protect the windows of homes and offices with masking tape or wood, and do not leave loose objects in yards and streets," he said.

At least 21 states in Mexico will have rain in the next 72 hours with the coincidence of four meteorological phenomena, including Hurricane Raymond.

Mexico suffered its worst flooding and landslide when tropical storms Manuel and Ingrid battered the country last month, leaving 157 people dead and 1.7 million people homeless.

Raymond strengthened into a hurricane Sunday evening off Mexico's Pacific coast, threatening to pour heavy rains, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC).

It moved northward at around 10 km per hour with maximum sustained winds of 120 km per hour and additional strengthening is expected as well, said the NHC.

Raymond is forecast to slowly approach Mexico's southern Pacific coast late Monday or Tuesday before beginning to meander, the NHC said, adding the hurricane is likely to take a sharp turn west before reaching the land.

Heavy rainfall is possible along Mexico's south-central coast in the next few days, and life-threatening floods and landslides are expected as well, according to the NHC.

（Editor：LiangJun、Yao Chun）