ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Otis strengthened from a tropical storm to a dangerous Category 4 hurricane in a matter of hours Tuesday as it approached Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, where it was forecast to make landfall near the resort of Aca
The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Otis has maximum sustained winds of 145 mph early Tuesday evening. It was centered about 85 miles south-southeast of Acapulco and moving north-northwest at 8 mph .
In Acapulco, people hurried home as rain began to pelt the resort and winds picked up, driving tourists from the beach. Mexico's army and navy deployed more than 8,000 troops to the area with specialized equipment to aid in rescues. Authorities closed Acapulco's port, home to some 300 fishing boats.