CANÇUN, Mexico – A strong Tropical Storm Karl made landfall on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula yesterday, hitting a sparsely populated stretch of Caribbean coast, while two Category 4 hurricanes roared further out in the Atlantic.
Karl made landfall about 30 miles (50 kilometres) up the coast from the Quintana Roo state capital of Chetumal, with winds of about 65 mph (100 kph), according to the United States National Hurricane Centre in Miami.
The storm hit about midway between the cruise ship port of Majahual and the coastal town of Xcalak.
Karl’s centre passed close to the state capital, where there were reports of heavy rain and wind, downed trees and power outages.
The storm then moved inland over tiny rural hamlets and its winds declined to about 55 mph (90 kph).
Karl was expected to quickly weaken into a tropical depression as it slogs across the flat peninsula before heading back out over the Gulf of Mexico. Once in the Gulf, it is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by the end of the week and threaten the central Mexican coast. (AP)
