Dangerous Hurricane Emily roars towards Mexico

Hurricane Emily howled towards Mexico's Caribbean coast yesterday bearing 135 kph winds, pounding waves and torrential rain, and causing chaos in Cancun as tourists fled resorts in its path.

As the breeze picked up and waves grew larger, business owners winced at the thought of what the storm could do to an economy that is one of Mexico's richest thanks to a year-round tourist influx.

Locals, many of whom live in ramshackle houses much less able to withstand storm winds than Cancun's luxury hotels, worried aloud about their homes as they headed for shelter.

Some feared a repeat of Hurricane Gilbert, which tore up Cancun in 1988, killing hundreds.