Hurricane strengthens, aims for Mexican coast

LA PAZ, Mexico - Hurricane Ignacio sideswiped the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula Sunday, threatening to batter the region with winds topping 105 mph as authorities closed all ports and airports and evacuated low-lying areas.

The hurricane gathered force Sunday as it pushed north into the narrow Gulf of California, hugging the eastern edge of this desert peninsula sprinkled with golf courses and five-star hotels.

The governor of Baja California Sur state announced the evacuation of about 6,000 people in low-lying areas in La Paz, 50 miles north of Cabo San Lucas, and smaller communities further south.

"Under no pretext should we allow any residents to remain in high-risk zones," Gov. Leonel Cota said. "If they won't leave, we'll ask the army to go in and get them out of their houses."

But some residents of Agua Escondida ignored warnings to leave homes cobbled together from packing crates, wood and cardboard.

Police officer Husberto Camacho Dominguez used his patrol car's public address system to urge residents to leave and take their families to safety.

"Take them to a more secure location because family is the most important thing," he said.

One block away, Jose Luis Gonzalez continued to mix gravel for his half-built brick house.

"I'm not moving from here," he said. "I just built my house and I don't want to leave it alone."

By Sunday afternoon, all ports on the lower peninsula were closed after tying down boats or sending them out to sea.

The hurricane's center remained over the gulf Sunday evening, as Ignacio drifted slowly north along the eastern edge of the Baja California peninsula at speeds of 5 mph or slower.

Hurricane-force winds extended out up to 25 miles from the center, and tropical-storm force winds extended out up to 85 miles, buffeting the peninsula with wind and rain. At 8 p.m., the center of Hurricane Ignacio was located near latitude 23.8 N, longitude 109.2 W.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said rainfall of up to 16 inches could cause life-threatening flash flooding and mud slides. The center predicted no change in Ignacio's strength for the next day or two.

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