Hurricane Rick hits Mexico's southern Pacific coast

MEXICO CITY (AP) - A compact Hurricane Rick roared ashore along Mexico's southern Pacific coast early Monday with 105 mph (165 kmh) winds and heavy rain amid warnings of potential flash floods in the coastal mountains.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Rick made landfall as a Category 2 storm about 15 miles (25 kms) east of the port of Lazaro Cardenas around 5 a.m. local time. Later Monday morning, Rick was 40 miles (65 km) north of Lazaro Cardenas, moving north at 9 mph (15 kmh).

Forecasters said the storm was relatively compact, with hurricane force winds extending out only 15 miles (30 kilometers) from the eye, but they said its winds and rain could still cause problems in around the larger resort of Acapulco to the east. The storm's maximum sustained winds had decreased to 80 mph (130 kmh).

The center warned that Rick could produce flash floods and mudslides in the mountainous terrain on the coast.

'œDuring its passage over land, it will cause intense to torrential rains and possible mudslides and flooding, as well as rising levels in streams and rivers, in the states of Guerrero, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco,'ť Mexico's National Water Commission said in a statement.

Authorities in Lazaro Cardenas said they had opened six emergency shelters for people who might want to leave low-lying areas. Zihuatanejo opened a shelter at the municipal auditorium.

The state of Guerrero, where Zihuatanejo and Acapulco are located, said rains and wind had already knocked over some trees and damaged a road.