MEXICO'S PACIFIC COAST LASHED BY HURRICANE RICK.

Byline: Associated Press

Hurricane Rick roared into Mexico's Pacific Coast on Sunday, pummeling fishing villages and tourist resorts still recovering from a deadly battering by Hurricane Pauline.

Oaxaca's state government said hurricane-force winds hit the coast late Sunday afternoon, downing trees and washing out roads only recently repaired from the beating received from Pauline.

Hundreds of people were evacuated and seaports and tourist airports in areas such as Huatulco and Puerto Escondido were forced to close.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths, but the storm knocked out communication with some small coastal villages. Officials suspended school indefinitely in the region, partly so school buildings could be used as shelters.

At 7 p.m. PST, Rick's eye had moved inland near the resort of Puerto Escondido, moving east-northeast at about 13 mph, according to the U.S. Hurricane Center in Miami.

Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 35 miles from the center of the hurricane and tropical storm force winds extended outward up to 115 miles, largely to the south, the Center said.

Maximum sustained winds, which had reached 85 mph, had fallen to 75 mph with the move inland. The hurricane was expected to dissipate as it moved over land, but the Hurricane Center predicted strong winds and coastal flooding as the storm dumps 5 to 10 inches of rain.

It also warned that a storm surge could lift the sea level 2 to 4 feet above normal, with high waves possibly lashing the coast.

Oaxaca state Secretary of Government Hector Anuar Mafud said hurricane-force winds had hit the area of Pinotepa Nacional, cutting recently repaired bridges and roads and forced the evacuation of at least 350 people in the municipality of Pinotepa.