Mexico still wary of storm

MEXICO CITY — The remnants of Hurricane Franklin on Thursday soaked central Mexico, threatening mudslides and flash floods after the storm hit the country’s gulf coast overnight.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center downgraded the storm to a tropical depression as it broke up over the mountains of central Mexico.

Franklin was centered about 20 miles north-northwest of Mexico City on Thursday morning, with sustained winds of 30 mph, with a steady rain falling in the nation’s capital and winds picking up. It was moving westward at 20 mph.

Franklin became the first hurricane of the Atlantic season Wednesday and hit north of the city of Veracruz as a Category 1 storm. Earlier, as a tropical storm, Franklin made a relatively mild run across the Yucatan Peninsula.

Authorities in Veracruz state canceled school as a precautionary measure.

There were no initial reports of deaths, but authorities in a number of states were closely monitoring the rains.

Officials said the storm did less damage than feared as it rolled across the Yucatan early in the week, but there was concern it could bring flooding to the mountainous territory east of Mexico City.

Forecasters said Franklin could drop 4 to 8 inches of rain, with localized amounts up to 15 inches.

Felix Marquez Associated Press A TOURIST boat operator bails water in Veracruz, Mexico, after moving his boat onto land as a precaution.