Polo strengthens to Category 4 hurricane off Mexico

Hurricane Polo reached Category 4 strength off Mexico's Pacific coast on Tuesday, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

The forecast rules out the hurricane making landfall for now, but predicts heavy rains and risk of flooding, landslides, strong winds and high waves in coastal states.

"Polo is a Category 4 hurricane" and "could become a potentially catastrophic Category 5 hurricane today (Tuesday) or Wednesday," the NHC said in an advisory.

Mexico's meteorological service has issued alerts for several states along its Pacific coast including Guerrero, where popular beach resort town Acapulco is located.

In Acapulco, police officers broadcast public safety messages on the beach, warning people to take "preventive measures."

The town was devastated by Hurricane Otis in 2023, and "people are a bit worried," Alfredo Mondragon, who provides tourist services on the beach, told AFP.

Mexico suffers from cyclones every year, both on the Pacific coast and the Atlantic coast, usually between May and November.