Sharjah24 - Reuters: Hurricane Grace gathered more strength as it barreled towards Mexico's Gulf coast on Friday afternoon, threatening to lash the oil-producing state of Veracruz and central Mexico with strong winds and heavy rains.
In Tecolutla, a resort on the Gulf of Mexico, some tourists at the beach from Mexico City were enjoying the calm before the storm, even as light rain started to fall.
"We had to come, even if we get a bit wet," said Guillermina Morales, who was on a trip planned over four months ago.
Grace, a Category 1 Hurricane, is forecast to strengthen further before it reaches land late on Friday or early on Saturday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
It should then weaken rapidly as it dissipates over land during the weekend, the Miami-based NHC said.
Veracruz and its waters are home to several oil installations, including Petroleos Mexicanos' Lazaro Cardenas refinery in Minatitlan in the south of the state.
Current forecasts showed Grace expected to hit Veracruz well to the north of the city.
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