MEXICO WILMA

Palm trees buckle under heavy rain and strong winds as Hurricane Wilma approaches Playa del Carmen in Mexico's Caribbean state of Quintana Roo October 21, 2005. Roaring waves pounded Mexican beach resorts on Thursday and thousands of tourists were evacuated to escape the wrath of Hurricane Wilma, which gathered strength in the Caribbean on its way to Florida. Cuba evacuated 220,000 people and residents of southern Florida stocked up on drinking water and gas to prepare for Wilma, which spun off the coasts of Mexico and Belize packing winds of about 150 mph (240 kph). REUTERS/Henry Romero