'The most dangerous storm in history': Threatening up to TEN MILLION people https://t.co/NrvaQvEO6a pic.twitter.com/9zrv2kdVgM
— slone (@slone) October 24, 2015The strongest hurricane to ever hit the Pacific coast has slammed into western Mexico this evening as thousands of tourists desperately tried to flee.
Hurricane Patricia made landfall with wind speeds of 165mph as it tore through the town of Emiliano Zapato in Jalisco state, according to officials.
It is now expected to slowly move north west, laying waste to towns and villages in its path. Forecasters said the hurricane's wind speed would slow once it reached land but there were still 160mph gusts as of 9pm.
Holidaymakers evacuated earlier today as forecasters said the storm would bring 200mph winds, 40ft waves, deadly mudslides and dump up to 20 inches of rain on parts of Mexico.
Category 5 storm Patricia is the strongest recorded hurricane in history, with the US National Hurricane Center measuring 201mph sustained winds before it hit land and the lowest recorded atmospheric pressure of 880mb.
