Hurricane Grace lashed eastern Mexico with heavy rain and strong wind on Saturday, causing flooding, power blackouts and damage to homes as it gradually lost strength over the mountainous interior.

The storm made landfall in Mexico for a second time during the night near Tecolutla in Veracruz state as a major Category Three storm, triggering warnings of mudslides and significant floods.

The streets of Tecolutla, home to about 24,000 people, were littered with fallen trees, signs and roof panels as dawn broke, television images showed.

In the Veracruz state capital, Xalapa, streets were turned into muddy brown rivers. Many homes in the region were left without electricity.

Flooding was also reported in parts of neighboring Tamaulipas state while in Puebla in central Mexico trees were toppled and buildings suffered minor damage.

Grace weakened to a tropical storm as it churned inland clocking maximum sustained winds of 70 miles (110 kilometers) per hour, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).

At 1500 GMT, the storm was located 25 miles northeast of Mexico City, which was drenched by heavy rain, and moving west at 13 mph, forecasters said.

'Seek refuge'

Grace was "weakening rapidly over land but still causing very heavy rains and flooding over portions of east-central Mexico," the NHC said.

The storm was forecast to weaken to a tropical depression and dissipate by early Sunday, it said.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had urged residents living in places considered to be at risk to "seek refuge in high places with relatives and in shelters."

Nearly 8,000 civil defense members, soldiers and electricity board workers were ready to tackle the aftermath of the storm, he said on Friday night.

Authorities in the state of Veracruz said they had prepared 200 storm shelters and urged residents to hunker down in safe places.

Veracruz Governor Cuitlahuac Garcia warned of the risk of flooding and mudslides as the storm dumped heavy rain on the mountainous region.

Authorities closed most highways in Veracruz, which is crossed by numerous rivers.

Fishermen affected

In preparation for the storm, workers along the coast boarded up windows to protect stores, fishermen brought their boats ashore and residents secured their homes after stocking up on canned food and water.

"We will spend many days without fishing -- almost a week," said Isabel Pastrana Vazquez, head of Veracruz's federation of fisheries cooperatives.

"About 35,000 fishermen will be affected because we can't go out. We're going to have a swell and rain," he said.

The hurricane had already lashed Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, where more than 6,000 tourists and residents were evacuated to storm shelters earlier in the week across the southeastern state of Quintana Roo.

The storm first struck on Thursday near the town of Tulum, famed for its Mayan temples, drenching a string of Caribbean beach resorts.

The hurricane passed the Riviera Maya coastline without any loss of life, according to Quintana Roo Governor Carlos Joaquin.&nbsp;

Hurricane Grace lashed eastern Mexico with heavy rain and strong wind on Saturday, causing flooding, power blackouts and damage to homes as it gradually lost strength over the mountainous interior.

Hurricane Grace lashed eastern Mexico with heavy rain and strong wind on Saturday, causing flooding, power blackouts and damage to homes as it gradually lost strength over the mountainous interior. The storm made landfall in Mexico for a second time during the night near Tecolutla in Veracruz state as a major Category Three storm, triggering warnings of mudslides and significant floods. The streets of Tecolutla, home to about 24,000 people, were littered with fallen trees, signs and roof panels as dawn broke, television images showed. In the Veracruz state capital, Xalapa, streets were turned into muddy brown rivers. Many homes in the region were left without electricity. Flooding was also reported in parts of neighboring Tamaulipas state while in Puebla in central Mexico trees were toppled and buildings suffered minor damage. Grace weakened to a tropical storm as it churned inland clocking maximum sustained winds of 70 miles (110 kilometers) per hour, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). At 1500 GMT, the storm was located 25 miles northeast of Mexico City, which was drenched by heavy rain, and moving west at 13 mph, forecasters said. 'Seek refuge' Grace was "weakening rapidly over land but still causing very heavy rains and flooding over portions of east-central Mexico," the NHC said. The storm was forecast to weaken to a tropical depression and dissipate by early Sunday, it said. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had urged residents living in places considered to be at risk to "seek refuge in high places with relatives and in shelters." Nearly 8,000 civil defense members, soldiers and electricity board workers were ready to tackle the aftermath of the storm, he said on Friday night. Authorities in the state of Veracruz said they had prepared 200 storm shelters and urged residents to hunker down in safe places. Veracruz Governor Cuitlahuac Garcia warned of the risk of flooding and mudslides as the storm dumped heavy rain on the mountainous region. Authorities closed most highways in Veracruz, which is crossed by numerous rivers. Fishermen affected In preparation for the storm, workers along the coast boarded up windows to protect stores, fishermen brought their boats ashore and residents secured their homes after stocking up on canned food and water. "We will spend many days without fishing -- almost a week," said Isabel Pastrana Vazquez, head of Veracruz's federation of fisheries cooperatives. "About 35,000 fishermen will be affected because we can't go out. We're going to have a swell and rain," he said. The hurricane had already lashed Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, where more than 6,000 tourists and residents were evacuated to storm shelters earlier in the week across the southeastern state of Quintana Roo. The storm first struck on Thursday near the town of Tulum, famed for its Mayan temples, drenching a string of Caribbean beach resorts. The hurricane passed the Riviera Maya coastline without any loss of life, according to Quintana Roo Governor Carlos Joaquin.

Hurricane Grace batters Mexico for second time

Tropical storm&nbsp;Grace&nbsp;strengthened into a&nbsp;hurricane&nbsp;on Wednesday as it barreled toward&nbsp;Mexico's&nbsp;Caribbean&nbsp;coast, grounding flights and threatening to bring strong winds, flash flooding and large waves.

A&nbsp;hurricane&nbsp;warning was in effect for a string of beach resorts,&nbsp;including Cancun, on&nbsp;Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, the US National&nbsp;Hurricane&nbsp;Center (NHC) in Miami said.

At least 124 flights to or from Cancun were canceled, the city's mayor, Mara Lezama, said on Twitter.

At 0000 GMT, the Category One&nbsp;hurricane,&nbsp;the lowest on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale, was packing maximum sustained winds of 80 miles&nbsp;per hour, according to the NHC.

It was located 170 miles east of the Mexican town of Tulum and expected to make landfall early Thursday, having already drenched earthquake-stricken Haiti, the NHC said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/delta-poses-a-greater-threat-new-zealand-pm-jacinda-ardern-defends-lockdown-call-406553">Also read |&nbsp;'Delta poses a greater threat': New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern defends lockdown call</a>

The storm was then expected to cross the southwest Gulf of&nbsp;Mexico&nbsp;before lashing the eastern states of Veracruz and Tamaulipas.

Grace&nbsp;was "expected to bring strong winds and a dangerous storm surge" to parts of the Yucatan, according to the NHC.

"Heavy rainfall from&nbsp;Grace&nbsp;will likely result in areas of flash and urban flooding, and will also be capable of producing mudslides," it said.

The storm surge will be accompanied by "large and destructive waves" near the&nbsp;coast, the NHC warned.

Businesses on&nbsp;Mexico's Riviera Maya boarded up windows, while fishermen and tour operators hauled their boats onto land and tourists soaked up the final hours in the sun.

At supermarkets in Cancun, some residents stocked up on food in preparation for the storm's arrival, although the authorities called on people to avoid panic buying.

"We don't know what it will be like," said 41-year-old housewife Hortencia Rodriguez.

"With Wilma we didn't prepare and we were hit hard," she said, referring to a Category 5&nbsp;hurricane&nbsp;that pummeled Cancun in 2005.

Authorities in&nbsp;Mexico's southeastern state of Quintana Roo set up 85 shelters for people who needed refuge from the storm.

Tropical storm Grace strengthened into a hurricane on Wednesday as it barreled toward Mexico's Caribbean coast, grounding flights and threatening to bring strong winds, flash flooding and large waves.

Tropical storm Grace strengthened into a hurricane on Wednesday as it barreled toward Mexico's Caribbean coast, grounding flights and threatening to bring strong winds, flash flooding and large waves. A hurricane warning was in effect for a string of beach resorts, including Cancun, on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami said. At least 124 flights to or from Cancun were canceled, the city's mayor, Mara Lezama, said on Twitter. At 0000 GMT, the Category One hurricane, the lowest on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale, was packing maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour, according to the NHC. It was located 170 miles east of the Mexican town of Tulum and expected to make landfall early Thursday, having already drenched earthquake-stricken Haiti, the NHC said. Also read | 'Delta poses a greater threat': New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern defends lockdown call The storm was then expected to cross the southwest Gulf of Mexico before lashing the eastern states of Veracruz and Tamaulipas. Grace was "expected to bring strong winds and a dangerous storm surge" to parts of the Yucatan, according to the NHC. "Heavy rainfall from Grace will likely result in areas of flash and urban flooding, and will also be capable of producing mudslides," it said. The storm surge will be accompanied by "large and destructive waves" near the coast, the NHC warned. Businesses on Mexico's Riviera Maya boarded up windows, while fishermen and tour operators hauled their boats onto land and tourists soaked up the final hours in the sun. At supermarkets in Cancun, some residents stocked up on food in preparation for the storm's arrival, although the authorities called on people to avoid panic buying. "We don't know what it will be like," said 41-year-old housewife Hortencia Rodriguez. "With Wilma we didn't prepare and we were hit hard," she said, referring to a Category 5 hurricane that pummeled Cancun in 2005. Authorities in Mexico's southeastern state of Quintana Roo set up 85 shelters for people who needed refuge from the storm.

Mexico's Caribbean coast braces for Hurricane Grace

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