Hurricane Lisa heads toward Belize coast

MEXICO CITY >> Hurricane Lisa strengthened in the western Caribbean as it headed for a landfall in Belize later in the day. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Lisa had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph by early afternoon. The storm’s center was about 35 miles east-southeast of Belize City and moving west at 14 mph. Belize’s National Emergency Management Organization said the strom was expected to come ashore near Belize City but warned that “residents across the country are reminded to be prepared.” Einer Gomez, the assistant manager at Ramon’s Village Resort in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, just off the coast of Belize, said a light rain had started to fall and there was some storm surge, but no high winds yet.