HURRICANE WILLA CLOSES IN ON MEXICO

MEXICO CITY: Hurricane Willa surged to a dangerous Category Four storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast, United States forecasters said on Sunday, warning of a lifethreatening storm surge and heavy winds and rainfall.

The monster storm was 340km south-southwest of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico, packing top sustained winds of 230kmph.

“Extremely dangerous... Hurricane Willa continues to rapidly strengthen (and is) forecast to produce life-threatening storm surge, wind and rainfall over portions of southwestern and westcentral Mexico beginning on Tuesday (today),” the Miamibased National Hurricane Centre warned.

It was churning forward northnorthwest, at a slow 9kph, the forecast said.

“Additional strengthening is expected during the next day or so, and Willa is forecast to be a dangerous hurricane when it reaches the coast of Mexico.” .

Mexico’s government has put various parts of the coast on alert.

Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Vicente — with maximum sustained winds of 65kph — was expected to bring “heavy rainfall and flooding” over Mexico’s south and southwest.

Since last Thursday, the southern state of Oaxaca has suffered flooding and landslides related to the rains, which authorities said have left 11 people dead.