Karl hits Mexico’s Gulf Coast

Hurricane Karl smashed into Mexico’s Gulf Coast today, creating havoc in the major port city of Veracruz and forcing the country to shut down its only nuclear power plant and its central Gulf Coast oil platforms. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says Karl’s eye hit about 10 miles northwest of Veracruz at about 11:30 a.m., with sustained winds of 115 mph. Veracruz civil protection chief Isidro Cano Luna says the storm already had caused widespread damage, knocking down trees, billboards and power poles. He says there had not been a storm like it since Hurricane Janet hit in September 1955. Karl’s winds were down to 110 mph by early afternoon, taking a westward path. While the storm is expected to steadily weaken as it moves inland, it is reported likely to be at hurricane force when it reaches the state capital of Jalapa, 60 miles from the coast.