Hurricane Orlene hits Mexico’s Pacific coast

MAZATLAN, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Orlene made landfall on Mexico's Pacific coast near the tourist town of Mazatlan on Monday.

Electrical cables swayed and sent off showers of sparks in the town of El Rosario, about 40 miles south of Mazatlan, close to where the hurricane hit.

Orlene lost some strength after roaring over the Islas Maria, a former prison colony being developed as a tourist draw. The main island is sparsely populated, mainly by government employees, and most buildings there are made of brick or concrete.

The hurricane's winds slipped back to 85 mph mph as it hit land about 45 miles southeast of Mazatlan Monday morning, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.*