MEXICO CITY (AP) – Hurricane Emily fizzled to a tropical depression as it moved inland Thursday, but still threatening heavy rains and flooding in northern Mexico.

The center of the storm was about 35 miles southwest of Saltillo, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph, the Miami-based National Hurricane Center reported.

The storm was expected to dissipate later Thursday, but was still capable of producing heavy rains that could trigger further flooding and mudslides, the center said.

The rains caused the partial collapse of a bridge in Monterrey on Thursday morning, rupturing a natural gas pipeline that then burst into flames, Mexican news media reported. The fire was brought under control and no injuries were reported.

While still a hurricane packing winds of up to 135 mph, Emily hit Mexico twice this week, prompting thousands of people to evacuate their homes on both sides of the U.S.-Mexican border.

The storm ripped roofs off resort hotels and stranded thousands of tourists along the popular Mayan Riviera, which includes the resort of Cancun. It then traveled over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico gaining strength before making a second landfall Wednesday near San Fernando, about 75 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The storm blew over truck trailers as it marched inland Wednesday and Thursday, flooding vast swaths of land and leaving water pouring across highways.

Numerous industrial and farming buildings were twisted into hulking, metal messes.

Eugenio Hernandez, governor of Tamaulipas state, which includes San Fernando, said the storm caused no deaths or major injuries, but that officials were still assessing the damage.


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