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CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico (AP) — The Mexican government says its sending army and commercial planes to La Paz and Los Cabos airports to get tourists out after Hurricane Odile (oh-DEEL') left a trail of destruction through Mexico's Baja California Peninsula Monday.
The storm came ashore as a powerful Category 3 hurricane and leveled everything from ramshackle homes to luxury hotels and big box stores, leaving entire neighborhoods as disaster zones.
About 30,000 tourists are being put up in temporary shelters in hotels and Los Cabos international airport remains closed. Emergency officials report that 135 people have been treated for minor injuries from flying glass or falling objects, but there have been no serious injuries or deaths so far.
Officials say most of the area's power lines are down, leaving nearly 240,000 people in the state of Baja California Sur without electricity. Many are also without drinkable water.
Odile continues to lash Baja California Sur with strong winds and heavy rains as it marches northward. However, it has weakened to a Category 1 hurricane with top winds near 75 mph and is expected to be downgraded to a tropical storm soon.
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APPHOTO VC144: A tourists looks to the ocean from inside a debris-filled area at the Hilton hotel after the resort sustained severe damage from Hurricane Odile in Los Cabos, Mexico, Monday, Sept. 15, 2014. Hurricane Odile blazed a trail of destruction through Mexico's Baja California Peninsula that leveled everything from ramshackle homes to big box stores and luxury hotels, leaving roads and entire neighborhoods as disaster zones. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano) (15 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO VC135: People salvage the useful remains from houses destroyed by Hurricane Odile in Los Cabos, Mexico, Monday, Sept. 15, 2014. Hundreds of impoverished houses were destroyed in the Unidad Real squatter's settlement and other equally poor neighborhoods. Mexico's Interior Ministry declared a state of natural disaster for affected areas in the state of Baja California Sur. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano) (15 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO VC128: A woman looks at what remains of her house after it was destroyed by Hurricane Odile in Los Cabos, Mexico, Monday, Sept. 15, 2014. Hundreds for impoverished housed were destroyed in the Unidad Real land invasion and other equally poor neighborhoods. Mexico's Interior Ministry declared a state of natural disaster for affected areas in the state of Baja California Sur. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano) (15 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO VC137: Enrique Cota Ceceña shows to reporters what remains of his belongings after his house was severely damaged by flood waters from Hurricane Odile in Los Cabos, Mexico, Monday, Sept. 15, 2014. Hurricane Odile blazed a trail of destruction through Mexico's Baja California Peninsula that leveled everything from ramshackle homes to big box stores and luxury hotels, leaving roads and entire neighborhoods as disaster zones. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano) (15 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO VC136: Enrique Cota Ceceña cries after finding that his house was severely damaged by flood waters from Hurricane Odile in Los Cabos, Mexico, Monday, Sept. 15, 2014. Hurricane Odile blazed a trail of destruction through Mexico's Baja California Peninsula that leveled everything from ramshackle homes to big box stores and luxury hotels, leaving roads and entire neighborhoods as disaster zones. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano) (15 Sep 2014)
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