First hurricane of season fizzles to storm

2012-05-26 1

High winds and heavy rains beat against Mexico's coast.

Hurricane Bud may have been downgraded to a tropical storm on Friday, but its effects are still widespread.

Schools and a major shipping port in Manzanillo were forced to close.

The stormy weather is also disrupting the fishing industry - the main source of income for the local fishermen.

SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FISHERMAN ANTONIO LOPEZ, SAYING:

"This is the problem here, cyclones and hurricanes which stop us from working. Fishing is what supports us here, we don't have anything else. I think as fisherman I can only support myself from fishing."

Officials have not ordered families to relocate, but this woman says she refused to be caught flatfooted and left her home on the coast as water levels rose.

Tropical storm Bud was the first hurricane of the season and now boasts winds up to 115 km or 70 miles per hour.

Bud is expected to gradually move outwards on Sunday.

However, the U.S. National Hurricane Center is warning residents that the influx of heavy rain could cause flashfloods and mudslides in the region.

Jessica Gray, Reuters

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