'Patricia': The most powerful hurricane ever

Roberto Ramírez de la Parra, head of the National Water Commission (Conagua), stated that hurricane Patricia is the most powerful that has ever been recorded in the history of the country, and indicated that landfall is expected between 16:00 and 18:00 hours Friday, on the central coast of Jalisco.

"A category five hurricane can lift cars, lift all the houses that are not grounded with steel and metal rods, and drag people who walk the streets," expressed Ramírez said of the Parra in a message broadcast on YouTube.

He expressed that the eye of the hurricane has a diameter of some 11 miles and its cloud bands reach around a thousand miles.

The official also urged people not to leave their homes.

According to Conagua, "Patricia" will cause "waterspouts, cyclones and tornadoes," when it makes landfall, as well as seawater floods, particularly in the central part of Jalisco.

In just 48 hours, it is expected that the rain will be equivalent to 40% of what is recorded every year in the affected areas, and an interaction between Patricia and cold front number 8, which descends from the north of Mexico, is also expected.