Dolly batters Mexico with rain, winds; no deaths reported

Matamoros: Hurricane Dolly toppled trees and sent billboards flying in the Mexican city of Matamoros and authorities south of the US border warned of possible flooding.

No deaths were immediately reported in Mexico from Dolly, which struck land just north of the border in Texas, but Tamaulipas state Gov. Eugenio Hernandez urged residents there to be alert for flooding because of the heavy rains.

‘Dolly didn't leave behind any incidents for us to lament,' Hernandez told reporters. But he said 50 neighborhoods in Matamoros are still in danger of flooding. About 13,000 people have taken refuge in 21 shelters.

‘Strong winds are no longer the problem. Now we have to worry about intense rain in the next 24 hours,' Hernandez said.

Dolly became a Category 2 hurricane as it neared land Wednesday but its winds slowed to 95 mph, and the storm was downgraded to a Category 1.

Mexican officials were monitoring the Rio Grande's water levels, which were at 13 feet before the storm hit. Eduardo Perez, spokesman for the Tamaulipas state water commission, said the river could reach 30 feet before overflowing.

Authorities asked local factories to close so that people would not try to get to work in the storm, and most businesses were closed as the storm hit. The few stores still open had shelves largely emptied by people stocking up on food and water.

About 4,800 soldiers and Tamaulipas state civil protection officials patrolled to prevent looting.

Authorities had aimed to evacuate as many as 23,000, but many refused to leave.

Matamoros city spokeswoman Leticia Montalvo said marines made two trips out to an area near Playa Bagdad where a caller reported a family was trapped inside a pickup truck, but they didn't find anyone.

‘We hope it was all speculation,' Montalvo said.

Officials also cut electricity to the city of Matamoros, fearing downed power lines could electrocute people.