Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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Hurricane Wilma Nears Mexican Resort Towns
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(http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=F77360:3919ACA

Storm, packing winds of 230 kilometers per hour, has trapped thousands
of tourists inside emergency shelters in Yucatan peninsula Weather
forecasters say the core of Hurricane Wilma is expected to hit
Mexico's Yucatan peninsula within hours, as powerful winds and rain
trap thousands of tourists inside emergency shelters.

The latest report from the U.S. National Weather Service says the slow
moving storm is carrying maximum sustained winds of 230
kilometers-an-hour, and could bring a storm surge of two or three
meters to Mexican shores. Wilma is described as extremely dangerous.

Forecasters say it could gain strength Friday as it dumps some 50
centimeters of rain on the Yucatan peninsula and up to one meter of
rain on the higher elevations of western Cuba. More than 200,000
Cubans have been evacuated from western provinces.

Wilma is expected to turn east and hit the southeastern U.S. state of
Florida by late Monday ar early Tuesday.

At least 10 people in Haiti were killed in mudslides caused by the
storm.


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