Dangerous Cat 4 Hurricane Willa getting closer to the Mexican coast

MAZATLAN, Mexico –

Authorities rushed to evacuate the low-lying areas and set up shelters in the form of a hurricane "extremely dangerous" Willa with winds of 130 km / h (215 km / h) heading for a landing Tuesday after- lunch on a portion of the Mexican Pacific coast dotted with high-rise complexes, surfing beaches and fishing villages.

Further south, at the same time, Mexican officials announced Monday night that there were 12 deaths related to heavy rains from tropical storm Vicente.

Willa briefly reached Category 5, then weakened slightly to move to Category 4. However, the National Hurricane Center of the United States warned that it was still likely to cause "a wave of storm, wind and precipitation threatening "in parts of west-central and southwestern Mexico.

Workers have glued windows in hotels and the authorities have ordered the closure of schools in a low region where the cities are located in the middle of agricultural land nestled between the sea and the lagoons. An "extraordinary emergency" decree has been issued for 19 municipalities in the states of Nayarit and Sinaloa, the Federal Department of the Interior has announced.

According to officials, 7,000 to 8,000 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas, mainly in the state of Sinaloa.

The hurricane was near Islas Marias, a group of islands located about 96 km offshore, which include a nature reserve and a federal prison. According to the forecasters, Willa would then be thrown to the ground in the late afternoon, 220 km (220 km) between the resort of Mazatlan and San Blas.

Forecasters have estimated that Category 3 storms would still be powerful when they touch the land.

Enrique Moreno, Mayor of Escuinapa, a municipality of about 60,000 inhabitants located on the potential Willa Trail, said officials were trying to evacuate everyone in the seaside village of Teacapan. He estimated that 3,000 people were affected, but he expects some people to try to stay.

"People do not want to evacuate, but it's for their safety," he said.

The mayor of the capital, Jose Joel Boucieguez, said officials had prepared shelters and were keeping a close eye on low-lying areas, about 60 km from the Mazatlan coast, with a population of about 500,000 in the area. metropolitan area. Mazatlan is a popular resort and is home to many American and Canadian expats.

Tuesday early in the day, Willa was concentrated about 120 km southwest of Islas Marias and 280 km south-southwest of Mazatlan. It was moving north at 5 mph (7 km / h), but had to make a turn to the northeast.

The strength of the hurricane winds extended to 55 km from the center of the storm and the tropical winds were blowing up to 125 km.

The American Hurricane Center warned that Willa could bring rain between 6 and 12 inches (15 and 30 centimeters) – up to 18 inches (45 centimeters) in some places – in parts of Jalisco, Nayarit states. and Sinaloa, with floods and landslides. possible in mountainous areas.

Further south, tropical storm Vicente weakened and caused a tropical depression early Tuesday, but heavy rains continued to cause dangerous floods in southern and southwestern Mexico.

Officials from the state of Oaxaca said seven adults and five children had lost their lives in drownings or mudslides.