CANCUN, Mexico (AP) — They're starting to evacuate people in Mexico, where Tropical Storm Ernesto is expected to slam into the Caribbean coast as a hurricane late tonight.
Soldiers and police are moving 600 residents from the fishing village of Punta Allen in Mexico's Quintana Roo state. Authorities are opening evacuation centers and are preparing to move people from other low-lying coastal areas.
Ernesto is about 200 miles east of Chetumal (chay-too-MAHL'), Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. It's moving west-northwest at 14 mph. Winds area expected to strengthen to at least 74 mph.
Hurricane warnings are out for the coast of Belize and the southern half of Mexico's Caribbean Yucatan coast. Tropical storm warnings are posted for the northern part of the Yucatan coast up to Cancun.
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103-a-08-(Daniel Brown, hurricane specialist, National Hurricane Center, in AP interview)-"early on Wednesday"-Daniel Brown, with the National Hurricane Center, says after leaving Honduras Ernesto will head to Belize and Southern Mexico.(refers to Tuesday as today) (7 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *103 (08/07/12)>> 00:08 "early on Wednesday"
104-a-08-(Daniel Brown, hurricane specialist, National Hurricane Center, in AP interview)-"to 4 feet"-Daniel Brown, with the National Hurricane Center, says Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula will get a visit from Ernesto. (7 Aug 2012)
<<CUT *104 (08/07/12)>> 00:08 "to 4 feet"
