6 hours ago
Hurricane Erick hit Mexico's Pacific coast as a Category 3, weakening to a tropical storm. It caused flooding, mudslides, and power outages in Oaxaca, damaging homes and roads.
People in the affected towns began clearing away debris after the storm passed.(Photo: AP)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Jun 20, 2025 04:13 IST
Hurricane Erick made landfall on Mexico’s southern Pacific coast as a powerful Category 3 hurricane, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, and widespread damage on Thursday. The storm hit near the town of Puerto Escondido around 5:30 AM (local time), but by the afternoon, it weakened as a tropical storm as it moved further inland.
According to Mexico’s weather agency, wind speeds dropped to around 50 mph (85 kph) after landfall. Although the winds slowed down, the rainfall remained a serious danger.
People in the affected towns began clearing away debris after the storm passed.
HEAVY RAINS, FLOODS, AND POWER OUTAGES REPORTED
The US Hurricane Centre (NHC) warned that Erick’s rainfall could still be deadly. The storm was expected to bring up to 8 inches (20 cm) of rain in parts of Guerrero, and up to 4 inches in Oaxaca and Michoacan. In some places, especially those with mountains or hills, the risk of mudslides and flooding was especially high.
"Life-threatening flooding and mudslides are expected, especially in areas of steep terrain," the NHC said.
Mexico’s environment ministry also warned about huge waves reaching up to 10 meters (33 feet), making the coastal areas even more dangerous.
No deaths were reported immediately after the storm, according to Laura Velzquez, head of Mexico's civil protection agency. However, damage to homes, roads, and services was widespread.
Two hospitals were damaged, and power lines were brought down by the strong winds. The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) said over 123,000 users in Oaxaca lost power. By late morning, electricity had been restored to about 26% of those affected.
Oaxaca Governor Salomn Jara confirmed that many roads and highways in the region were also damaged or closed due to floods and landslides. In Santiago Pinotepa Nacional, around 200 people were forced to leave their homes due to rising floodwaters.
FORECASTERS WARN OF FUTURE STORM RISKS
Meteorologists said Hurricane Erick was one of the major hurricanes to make landfall in the eastern Pacific this season. They warned storms like this could become stronger in the future due to rising sea temperatures.
"Rapid intensification near coastal cities is a major concern this hurricane season...as water temperatures continue to increase," said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert.
The area around Acapulco remains especially vulnerable. The beach city is still recovering from Hurricane Otis, which struck in 2023 causing massive damage.
With inputs from Agencies
Published By:
Satyam Singh
Published On:
Jun 20, 2025
