Hurricane Jimena forced Mexico to evacuate thousands of people by Zuzana Zelenakova

Resort towns in Mexico located at the southern tip of Baja California were hit by driving rain and winds a few days ago. It was the hurricane Jimena passing by. At the time it was categorized as Category 3 hurricane. Fortunately, Jimena has weakened late Tuesday to circa 175 kph and according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami it is expected to weaken further. The biggest resort on the peninsula, Los Cabos, seems to have escaped the worst. Muddy roads and power outages were the main problems. However, people were evacuated from the poorest quarter of Los Congrejos. They were hiding in darkness at school after electricity went out due to the storm. "Instead of giving! out a few sheets of roofing every year, they should give us materials to build real houses — wood, or even bricks," said Paulino Hernandez, an out-of-work mason who sought haven at the school. "Every year it's the same thing: They (officials) give out a few sheets of roofing, and the next year it has to be replaced" when a hurricane comes. The government declared a state of emergency for the areas of Los Cabos and the state capital of La Paz. Most of the shops, businesses, schools were closed and the Red Cross and the Mexican military were preparing for the post-hurricane situation. So far no injuries or major damages were reported from the area. According to state Interior Secretary Luis Armando Diaz the hurricane might actually help ease the drought. "If it continues like this, and there is not a major impact, it will help more than it will hurt," he said. When it comes to the residents and tourists they gathered to watch the raging sea near Cabo San Lucas. In gene! ral, they were not scared, only amazed. "I've spent a lot of t! ime livi ng here. We are used to hurricanes," said one of local residents.

related story (sgx15271): http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090901/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/tropic...

by Zuzana Zelenakova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

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