Tropical Storm Karina strengthens into a hurricane in the Pacific

Fueled by warm offshore waters, the storm has rapidly escalated since achieving hurricane status on Sunday

Hurricane Karina has become a major hurricane in the Pacific with winds exceeding 200km/h but poses no immediate threat to land.

Tropical Storm Karina strengthened into a hurricane in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday and could become a major storm this week, forecasters said. The cyclone's center was at far out sea and was not threatening land.

It could become a major storm this week, forecasters say.