Tropical Storm Barbara hits Mexico, Guatemala coast
Source: Reuters
MEXICO CITY, June 2 (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Barbara made landfall on Saturday near the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Guatemala, lashing coffee and sugar-growing regions with wind and rain but not causing any injuries or major damage. Forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Barbara was located just southwest of the Mexican city of Tapachula, a few miles (kilometers) from the Guatemalan border and the heart of an important agricultural region. While it packed sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph), and higher gusts, the center said Barbara would likely weaken as it moved inland and that tropical storm warnings in effect along the coasts would likely soon be discontinued. Salina Cruz, a small oil port further west along the Mexican coast in the state of Oaxaca, remained open. Emergency services in Tapachula said Barbara's eye passed over the city shortly after dawn, lashing the farming and commerce center with wind and rain, but moving on quickly and leaving only light showers. "It didn't cause much damage. There is nothing to worry about," said Gilberto Orozco, spokesman for civil protection in Tapachula. Mountains run parallel with the coast in the important coffee- and sugar-growing region spanning the border area, and heavy rainfall can often unleash fierce torrents. Raging rapids ripped towns apart in the area in the 2005 hurricane season. Orozco said many rivers were swollen in the area but there were no reports of them bursting their banks. But the hurricane center warned there was danger of mudslides and flash floods and Orozco said authorities were on high alert for possible run off from the mountains. There were no reports of any damage in Guatemala. Earlier predictions had Barbara developing into a hurricane over the weekend and barreling toward Mexican coastal resorts like Puerto Escondido, a major surfing spot. A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph (119 kph).
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