Hurricane Beryl has regained strength off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula ahead of an expected landfall in the popular holiday destination, packing winds of up to 115 mph (185 kph).
After causing major damage in the Caribbean, the hurricane has now reached Category 3 out of 5 strength, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the Mexican weather service reported on Friday.
Beryl is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane near the resort of Tulum in the coming hours, bringing strong winds, heavy rains and dangerous storm surges.
The hurricane had been downgraded to a level 2 before suddenly strengthening. Mexican civil protection authorities had previously expected it to reach the coast at only a force 1.
According to official figures, more than 340,000 holidaymakers are staying in Tulum and Cancun, further north.
The highest alert level applies to the areas most at risk, local authorities said. Quintana Roo state governor Mara Lezama called on residents and tourists to seek safety.
At least ten people were killed when the Beryl crashed earlier this year in Grenada and Venezuela, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, according to media reports. One person was also killed in Jamaica.
Beryl was temporarily upgraded to a “potentially catastrophic” Category 5 – its highest level – on Monday evening but then lost some intensity before regaining strength.
