Grace slams Mexico for second time

Veracruz, Aug. 21: Hurricane Grace slammed into Mexico for a second time early Saturday as a major Category Three storm, threatening to bring significant flooding and mudslides, US forecasters said.

The storm made landfall near Tecolutla in Veracruz state, clocking maximum sustained winds of 125 miles (200 kilometres) per hour, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). Category Three is the third highest of five

York, 21: A swath of the US East Coast was under alert Saturday, as storm Henri was upgraded to what could be the first hurricane in 30 years to hit New England.

Forecasters warned

Aug.

levels on the SaffirSimpson scale.

A hurricane warning was in effect for coastline violent winds, the risk of flash floods and surging seas as the storm churned in the Atlantic, packing maximum sustained winds near 75 miles per hour.

“Although some weakening is expected prior to

stretching from Puerto Veracruz to Cabo Rojo.

“Rapid weakening is expected as Grace moves landfall on Sunday, Henri is forecast to be at or near hurricane strength when it reaches the coasts of Long Island and southern New England,” the US National Hurricane Center said. — AFP

inland over the mountains of central Mexico later today,” the NHC said.

Nearly 8,000 civil defence members, soldiers and electricity board workers were ready to tackle the aftermath of the storm, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador wrote on Twitter.

He urged residents living in places considered to be at risk to “seek refuge in high places with relatives and in shelters.”

Authorities in the state of Veracruz said they had prepared 200 storm shelters and planned to open another 2,000 if necessary.

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