"The hurricane-hit Mexican resort city of Cancun will host the first International Hurricane Prevention Conference on May 19 and May 20, a local government official said on Monday.

Pedro Flota Alcocer, who is head of public security in the southeast Mexico state of Quintana Roo, said participants would discuss preventative measures on a hurricane emergency.

In particular, the delegates will discuss the risk to public health and the risk of forest fires following a hurricane.

On the delegate list are representatives from countries close to the Gulf of Mexico, as well as 32 directors of Mexico's civil defense forces, and other specialists from Asia, Europe and Latin America.

Quintana Roo was hit by Hurricanes Gilbert and Wilma last year, with heavy property losses and a small number of people killed."