Hurricane Erick weakens to tropical storm over Mexico, leaves trail of damage
Erick weakened to a tropical storm after making landfall as a major hurricane on Mexico's southern Pacific coast on Thursday, leaving flooded streets, damaged boats and buildings in Oaxaca as authorities warned of dangerous rains.
Erick made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane near the resort town Puerto Escondido about 5:30am local time (1130 GMT). By midafternoon, it had slowed to a tropical storm as it moved inland, with sustained winds weakening to 50mph (85kph).
In coastal towns, residents began clearing debris. 'There are many boats sunk here,' said fisherman Eduardo Gonzalez in Puerto Escondido. 'We're here to help our colleagues.'
Officials cautioned that Erick's intense rains remained dangerous.
'Life-threatening flooding and mudslides are expected, especially in areas of steep terrain,' the US National Hurricane Center said, forecasting up to 8 inches (20cm) of rain for Guerrero state with up to 4 inches for its neighbouring Oaxaca and Michoacan states.
Mexico's environment ministry also had warned of waves of up to 10 meters (33 feet).
No deaths were immediately reported, Laura Velazquez, the head of Mexico's civil protection agency, said at a press conference.
Two hospitals had suffered damage and power supply was compromised, she added. State-owned utility CFE reported that more than 123,000 users had lost power in Oaxaca, with service restored to 26% by late morning.
Oaxaca Governor Salomon Jara said roads and highways were significantly damaged.
Erick is the earliest major hurricane to make landfall in the eastern Pacific, meteorologists from AccuWeather said.
'Rapid intensification near coastal cities is a major concern this hurricane season...as water temperatures continue to increase,' said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather lead hurricane expert.
Areas about Acapulco are especially vulnerable, AccuWeather said, as the beach town is still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Otis which hit in 2023.
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TimesLIVE
6 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Hurricane Erick weakens to tropical storm over Mexico, leaves trail of damage
Erick weakened to a tropical storm after making landfall as a major hurricane on Mexico's southern Pacific coast on Thursday, leaving flooded streets, damaged boats and buildings in Oaxaca as authorities warned of dangerous rains. Erick made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane near the resort town Puerto Escondido about 5:30am local time (1130 GMT). By midafternoon, it had slowed to a tropical storm as it moved inland, with sustained winds weakening to 50mph (85kph). In coastal towns, residents began clearing debris. 'There are many boats sunk here,' said fisherman Eduardo Gonzalez in Puerto Escondido. 'We're here to help our colleagues.' Officials cautioned that Erick's intense rains remained dangerous. 'Life-threatening flooding and mudslides are expected, especially in areas of steep terrain,' the US National Hurricane Center said, forecasting up to 8 inches (20cm) of rain for Guerrero state with up to 4 inches for its neighbouring Oaxaca and Michoacan states. Mexico's environment ministry also had warned of waves of up to 10 meters (33 feet). No deaths were immediately reported, Laura Velazquez, the head of Mexico's civil protection agency, said at a press conference. Two hospitals had suffered damage and power supply was compromised, she added. State-owned utility CFE reported that more than 123,000 users had lost power in Oaxaca, with service restored to 26% by late morning. Oaxaca Governor Salomon Jara said roads and highways were significantly damaged. Erick is the earliest major hurricane to make landfall in the eastern Pacific, meteorologists from AccuWeather said. 'Rapid intensification near coastal cities is a major concern this hurricane water temperatures continue to increase,' said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather lead hurricane expert. Areas about Acapulco are especially vulnerable, AccuWeather said, as the beach town is still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Otis which hit in 2023.
eNCA
7 hours ago
- eNCA
Cleanup begins as Hurricane Erick moves on from Mexican coast
PUERTO ESCONDIDO - Southern Mexico started the cleanup process in the aftermath of Hurricane Erick, which slammed into its Pacific coast as a powerful Category 3 storm but weakened as it moved inland. In the tourist town of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca state, residents and emergency personnel worked to drain flooded streets and clear debris left behind as the storm knocked over trees and street signs and buried boats under sand on the beach. Much of the town of about 30,000 people was left without electricity or cellphone coverage. No deaths or injuries were reported from Puerto Escondido or elsewhere in the storm zone. Erick weakened to a tropical storm as it moved across southern Mexico on Thursday. "Continued rapid weakening is forecast, and Erick will likely dissipate tonight," the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest advisory. The centre warned of heavy rainfall in the state of Guerrero, with the risk of life-threatening flooding and mudslides. Mexico sees major storms every year, usually between May and November, on both its Pacific and Caribbean coasts.
TimesLIVE
a day ago
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Extremely dangerous hurricane Erick looms over Mexico's Pacific coast
Hurricane Erick, now an extremely dangerous category 4 storm, was located very near Mexico's southern Pacific coast and is expected to make landfall on Thursday, authorities said. The hurricane was located about 85km southeast of Punta Maldonado, in the Mexican state of Guerrero, packing maximum sustained winds of 220km/h, the US National Hurricane Center said in a report. 'Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning area beginning during the next few hours, with extremely destructive winds near the core of Erick,' NHC said in the early hours of Thursday. A hurricane warning is in effect between the tourist enclaves of Acapulco and Puerto Angel, as there was no certainty on the exact location where the storm will make landfall. 'The hurricane is expected to impact during Thursday morning as a powerful category 4 hurricane between Lagunas de Cha-cha, Oaxaca, and Punta Maldonado, Guerrero,' the Mexican ministry of environment said. Scientists have warned that Erick could become the most intense hurricane to make landfall along Mexico's Pacific coast this early in the season.
