Hurricane Willa, downgraded to category 4, approaches Mexico

Hurricane Willa, heading north-west of Mexico from the Pacific, lost some strength late Monday on the way to Saffir-Simpson 4, but remains "extremely dangerous" , according to the American Hurricane Center (NHC).

At 8 pm, the hurricane was about 160 kilometers from the coast of Mexico and gusts of wind could reach 240 km / h.

The hurricane was rated a few hours earlier in category 5 - the highest on the Saffir-Simpson scale - before losing some of its power.

"Willa is an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane," warned the US Meteorological Institute.

Willa, who was traveling at a speed of 13 km / h, should accelerate to reach the Mexican coast "in the afternoon or night of Tuesday," he added.

In the coastal areas of the three states of Sinaloa, Jalisco and Nayarit, schools were closed Monday and prevention messages were sent to the population.

The governor of Jalisco, Aristoteles Sandoval, ordered the evacuation of the hotels of the seaside resort of Puerto Vallarta, very appreciated notably of the North American tourists. The hurricane could be "very destructive," warned Sandoval.

"We have already prepared food and shelter, local and national emergency services are being prepared," he added.

In Mazatlan, beachfront hotels were almost empty on Monday, and staff were busy protecting the facilities with sandbags and wood panels.

The restorers of the beach and the fishermen set their equipment before the arrival of powerful gusts of wind, while a young man took advantage of the swell to ride the waves.

In the state of Michoacan, heavy rains caused the derailment of a freight train in the town of La Goleta, causing two injuries, according to the authorities.

Mexican authorities were also monitoring the progress of tropical storm Vicente. On Monday, she was 280 km south of Acapulco, in Guerrero State, and is also expected to hit the coast on Tuesday.

In September, at least 15 people died in flash floods related to heavy rains in the states of Sinaloa and Michoacan.

Last week, 11 people died in Oaxaca, including seven children, due to inclement weather.