Hurricane Erick makes landfall in Mexico, category 3 storm could bring "life-threatening" flooding: 10 points

Hurricane Erick has made landfall in western Oaxaca state in Mexico, reports Associated Press. The hurricane strengthened into an "extremely dangerous" Category 3 storm when it headed towards Mexico's Pacific coast, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

Despite the downgrade from Category 4, the hurricane center had warned that the storm's strong winds and rain are expected to cause "life-threatening flooding and mudslides."

Here are ten things you need to know on Hurricane Erick

-“Major Hurricane #Erick makes landfall in extreme western Oaxaca, Mexico just east of Punta Maldonado. The estimated maximum sustained winds are near 125 mph (205 km/h),” the Miami-based U.S. National Hurricane Center said in a post on social media.


-Earlier, forecasters upgraded Erick to an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 hurricane before lowering it to a Category 3. Early Thursday, the hurricane’s center was located about 20 miles east of Punta Maldonado. Its maximum sustained winds were clocked at 125 mph (205 kph).

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-Hurricane Erick made landfall on the southern Mexico coast, threatening to unleash destructive winds, flash floods and a dangerous storm surge on the region in coming hours.

-Heavy rainfall was expected to cause "life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain" in Oaxaca and Guerrero states, the NHC said. A "life-threatening storm surge" was expected to cause coastal flooding near where the storm made landfall.

-Mexican authorities said they were also expecting heavy rain in southernmost state Chiapas. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told people in the storm's path to "stay tuned to official communications, to stay indoors, and not go out", reports BBC.

-A hurricane warning is in effect for a 500km-stretch (300 miles) of Pacific coast, from the resort town of Acapulco to Puerto Ángel. Residents in Guerrero and Oaxaca have been warned of life-threatening floods and swells.

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-People living in mountainous areas have been told to beware of possible mudslides. Around 2,000 shelters have been set up across the states of Chiapas, Guerrero, and Oaxaca and more than 18,000 first responders have been mobilised to prepare for the hurricane.

-A hurricane warning was in effect from Acapulco to Puerto Ángel. A hurricane warning means hurricane conditions are expected in the area, and preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion, according to the hurricane center advisory.

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-Laura Velázquez, Mexico’s national civil defense coordinator, said Erick was forecast to bring “torrential” rains to Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas in southern Mexico. The mountainous region along the coast is especially prone to mudslides with numerous rivers at risk of flooding.

-In October 2023, at least 50 people were killed during Hurricane Otis, a category 5 hurricane that battered Acapulco. Otis intensified rapidly, meaning many people were unprepared when the hurricane made landfall.

(With inputs from agencies)