Azores on high alert as Hurricane Gordon draws near

LISBON, Sep 19 (Reuters) Portugal's Azores islands remained on high alert today as Hurricane Gordon drew nearer and authorities asked people to stay indoors and schools to shut.

Gordon was about 1,010 km west of Terceira island at 1330 hrs IST and was moving at about 35 kph, a spokeswoman for Portugal's Meteorological Institute said today.

''The hurricane is expected to reach the nine mid-Atlantic islands tonight, fuelling winds of up to 120 kph and waves 12 meters high,'' the spokeswoman said.

Authorities in the Azores also called on firemen to stay on alert and asked fishermen to remain on land.

The Azores has about 250,000 inhabitants, according to government data.

Gordon is expected to weaken and turn into a tropical storm tomorrow as it leaves the islands, the spokeswoman said.

The six-month Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1, has so far produced eight storms, of which four reached hurricane strength. The long-term average is for 10 storms a year, of which six become hurricanes.

REUTERS DKA VV1627