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Hurricane Norbert crashes ashore in north-western Mexico

Sunday October 12, 2008 - 07:34 EDT

Hurricane Norbert has crashed ashore on north-western Mexico's Pacific coast, the National Weather Service said.

"Norbert is now ashore near the coastline in Puerto Cortes ... the eye is close to hitting Puerto Cortes, but the entire area is being affected by hurricane strength" winds and downpours, a NWS forecaster said by phone.

The Category 2 storm was moving at 24 kilometres per hour with sustained winds of 165 kmph the weather service said, adding that it was spawning four-metre waves.

"We expect Norbert to move over the Baja California Sur peninsula later Saturday (local time) before it enters the Gulf of California and then hits Sonora state," the forecaster added.

So far about 1,000 people were in shelters in Baja California Sur, and "we do expect more, and if it is necessary, we will use authorities to take to shelters those who refuse to go," said Jose Gajon, state civil protection chief.

Hotel reservations were off by about 40 per cent mainly in Los Cabos and Loreto, local tourism officials said.

-AFP

- AFP

© AFP 2008