Flooding, power cuts as Hurricane Polo slams Mexico

A powerful Hurricane Polo struck Mexico's Pacific Coast on Monday, triggering flooding and power outages across the Baja California peninsula. The Category 3 storm, the first hurricane of the year to make landfall, was fueled by the El Nino weather phenomenon which caused unprecedented warming in the equatorial Pacific.

As the storm bore down on the resort city of Acapulco, fishermen pulled their boats out of the water ahead of the rising threat. Strong winds churned the sea near Puerto San Carlos, a small fishing town, causing water to spill into the streets. Power was cut to parts of the region as the sea breached coastal defenses.

Authorities ordered residents to take shelter and the military deployed nearly 7,000 troops in the state. Classes were suspended and public servants were told to work from home where possible. Laura Velazquez, National Coordinator of Civil Protection, warned that storm surges and heavy rains could cause "very severe" damage.

Some 169 shelters have been opened across Baja California Sur and a handful of homes and businesses were boarded up or sandbagged against flooding. Margarita Diaz opted to stay at home in Puerto San Carlos, despite the dangerous conditions. She had sealed her windows with blue masking tape and relied on faith in God to weather the storm.

Meteorologists are monitoring another tropical storm, Rachel, brewing in the Pacific off Mexico. It could also strengthen into a hurricane and move parallel to the coast of Mexico over the weekend.