Hurricane Lane roars toward Baja California peninsula

Tropical Storm Lane became a hurricane Friday as it roared toward the Baja California Peninsula, lashing Mexico's Pacific coast, flooding port cities and causing a landslide that killed a 7-year-old boy.

Photo: Hurricane Lane roars toward Baja California peninsula

The Mexican government issued a hurricane warning for the southern tip of the peninsula, the prison colony of Islas Marias, and a 280-kilometer (175-mile) stretch of coastline on the mainland that includes the resort of Mazatlan.

The Category 1 hurricane had maximum sustained winds near 130 kph (80 mph) and was expected to strengthen. It was located 450 kilometers (280 miles) southeast of the resort of Cabo San Lucas, and was moving northwest at 15 kph (9 mph.)

Lane was following the roughly the same path as Hurricane John, which raked Mexico's Pacific coast early this month before slamming into Baja California, killing five people and damaging 160 homes.

It was forecast to move parallel to the coast, passing by Islas Marias later Friday before brushing the tip of the peninsula this weekend, then heading back toward the Mexican mainland. The eye of the storm was expected to hit land near Los Mochis early Monday.

The resort of Cabo San Lucas was sunny and hot Friday, but tourists were scrambling to catch flights before the storm hit, reports AP.

Ellen Fiersten, from Springfield, Illinois, was spending her 60th birthday waiting in long lines at the airport.

"We were just happy to find a flight out," said the retiree. "We've got a lot of family waiting at home, and they were going to be very worried. It's paradise down here. You really never want to leave, especially not early."