LOS CABOS, Mexico (AP) — Mexican federal police are vowing to crack down on lawlessness in the resort area of Los Cabos.
Looters there have emptied store shelves in the aftermath of Hurricane Odile (oh-DEEL’). There were reports of gunfire overnight, and residents in Los Cabos lit large bonfires to try to protect their neighborhoods as they endured a fourth day without power or running water.
The U.S. State Department is advising stranded travelers to go to Los Cabos’ airport as soon as possible and be prepared to wait as long as necessary to get on a flight out. While the airport was heavily damaged, it is being powered by an emergency generator.
One traveler from Florida says she felt “relieved” once she arrived at the airport. She describes the scene in Los Cabos as “frightening.”
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APPHOTO MXDL109: An elderly man is helped by U.S. Embassy staff during the evacuation of tourists from the resort city San Jose de los Cabos, Mexico, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014, after Hurricane Odile devastated the resort city. Authorities said they had flown 5,000 tourists out of the region by Wednesday afternoon. Officials estimated 30,000 travelers were stranded by the storm. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (18 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO MXDL108: Tourists wait to be evacuated at the airport after Hurricane Odile devastated the tourist resort city of San Jose de los Cabos, Mexico, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014. Authorities said they had flown 5,000 tourists out of the region by Wednesday afternoon. Officials estimated 30,000 travelers were stranded by the storm. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (18 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO MXDL106: Mexico’s newest police force, the Gendarmerie federal police, organize the evacuation of tourists after Hurricane Odile devastated the tourist resort city of San Jose de los Cabos, Mexico, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014. Authorities said they had flown 5,000 tourists out of the region by Wednesday afternoon. Officials estimated 30,000 travelers were stranded by the storm. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (18 Sep 2014)
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APPHOTO MXDL124: A view of a Wal-Mart super store that was damaged and then looted after the passing of hurricane Odile in San Jose de los Cabos, Mexico, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014. After Odile roared past, residents of the resort state of Baja California Sur struggled with a lack of power and running water and formed long lines for emergency supplies. There were scattered reports of looting. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) (17 Sep 2014)
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