TULUM, Mexico (AP) – Hurricane Grace – temporarily backed by the force of tropical storms – headed for a second landing in Mexico on Friday, this time pointing to the shores of the continental gulf after falling through the main tourist strip of the country.
The storm lost a punch as it crossed the Yucatan Peninsula, but erupted Thursday afternoon over the relatively warm Gulf of Mexico and gained energy.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Grace winds were rising again to 70 mph (110 km / h) early Friday and that they are expected to soon regain the strength of the hurricane. It focused about 425 kilometers east of Tuxpan and headed west at 26 km / h.
The forecast trail would take him to a coastal region of small fishing towns and beach resorts between Tuxpan and Veracruz, probably early Friday night or Saturday, and then down a mountain range to the heart of the country and the large region of Mexico City.
Meteorologists said it could fall 15 to 30 inches of rain, with more in some isolated areas, which would pose a threat of rapid flooding, mudslides and urban flooding.
The hurricane struck early Thursday near Tulum, a tourist town famous for its Mayan ruins. Some families spent staggered hours protecting themselves from tree cracks and flying debris.
As the storm approached, Carlos González grabbed his 1 1/2 year old son and ran from his home with his wife to an educational center turned into a shelter, using his cell phone light to find his way through darkened streets.
“The only thing I have left is what I carry,” the 35-year-old construction worker said. “I knew that my house would not support it because it was made of cardboard. When the wind came, I was very scared and decided to leave.
No deaths were reported, but many streets were blocked by limbs and fallen trees that tore down power lines and left thousands in the dark on Thursday.
Most businesses remained closed, but the few that opened saw long lines of people waiting to buy omelettes and other food.
Quintana Roo Governor Carlos Joaquin said the storm ended the power supply to about 84,000 customers in Cancun and 65,000 in Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Puerto Aventura and Tulum. But he said no deaths were reported.
A traffic signal blocked a lane of the highway between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. A gas station was destroyed when a large pavilion exploded that destroyed two cars.
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AP journalist Dan Christian Rojas in Cancun contributed to this report.