Hurricane Erick is on course to make landfall in Mexico early Thursday as a Category 4 storm, bringing heavy rain and destructive winds to the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero. With evacuation orders and flash flood warnings in effect, authorities are preparing for the storm's impact on communities along the Pacific coastline.
Hurricane Erick Set to Strike Mexico as a Category 4 Storm, Evacuation Efforts Underway
Hurricane Erick Set to Strike Mexico as a Category 4 Storm, Evacuation Efforts Underway
As Hurricane Erick approaches, Mexico braces for severe weather, evacuations, and potential flooding.
In the lead-up to its landfall, Hurricane Erick has prompted significant preparations and safety measures across southern Mexico. Expected to strike west of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca, the storm has already caused disruption, resulting in school closures and evacuations in vulnerable areas.
Mexico's Civil Protection authorities have raised a red alert warning for severe weather across parts of Oaxaca and Guerrero, indicating that dangerous conditions are imminent. The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane warning that covers approximately 300 miles of coastline from Puerto Ángel in Oaxaca to the tourist hotspot of Acapulco in Guerrero.
In anticipation of the storm, more than 2,000 temporary shelters have been established across Guerrero, Oaxaca, and neighboring Chiapas. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged residents to stay indoors and emphasized the importance of moving to emergency shelters for those living near flood-prone areas and waterways.
Reports from the community of Lagunas de Chacahua, where over 100 locals were evacuated, highlight the urgency of the situation. Shelters have been prepared, especially for fishermen and tourism workers affected by the storm.
On Wednesday, floodwaters inundated the streets of Salina Cruz, a significant seaport, stranding vehicles and complicating emergency efforts. Local police have been engaged in rescue operations, attending to stranded motorists and clearing debris.
As Hurricane Erick intensified on Wednesday, its powerful winds raised concerns over property and infrastructure damage, prompting coastal businesses to board up windows in Puerto Escondido. Tourists have also been advised to remain in their hotels for safety.
This phenomenon follows the devastation caused by Hurricane Otis in 2023, a Category 5 storm that led to the loss of over 50 lives and extensive property damage in Acapulco. Erick marks the fifth named storm of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season, which spans through November 30, and it is a stark reminder of the potential dangers that remain this season.
Mexico's Civil Protection authorities have raised a red alert warning for severe weather across parts of Oaxaca and Guerrero, indicating that dangerous conditions are imminent. The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane warning that covers approximately 300 miles of coastline from Puerto Ángel in Oaxaca to the tourist hotspot of Acapulco in Guerrero.
In anticipation of the storm, more than 2,000 temporary shelters have been established across Guerrero, Oaxaca, and neighboring Chiapas. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged residents to stay indoors and emphasized the importance of moving to emergency shelters for those living near flood-prone areas and waterways.
Reports from the community of Lagunas de Chacahua, where over 100 locals were evacuated, highlight the urgency of the situation. Shelters have been prepared, especially for fishermen and tourism workers affected by the storm.
On Wednesday, floodwaters inundated the streets of Salina Cruz, a significant seaport, stranding vehicles and complicating emergency efforts. Local police have been engaged in rescue operations, attending to stranded motorists and clearing debris.
As Hurricane Erick intensified on Wednesday, its powerful winds raised concerns over property and infrastructure damage, prompting coastal businesses to board up windows in Puerto Escondido. Tourists have also been advised to remain in their hotels for safety.
This phenomenon follows the devastation caused by Hurricane Otis in 2023, a Category 5 storm that led to the loss of over 50 lives and extensive property damage in Acapulco. Erick marks the fifth named storm of the Eastern Pacific hurricane season, which spans through November 30, and it is a stark reminder of the potential dangers that remain this season.
