Hurricane Erick nears Mexico as 'extremely dangerous' Category 4 storm

Hurricane Erick has intensified into a Category 4 storm with 230 km/h winds, threatening Mexico’s Pacific coast with “devastating wind damage,” life-threatening floods, and mudslides, according to the US National Hurricane Center.

With sustained winds reaching 230 km/h (145 mph), the storm is forecast to make landfall on Thursday, primarily affecting the coastal states of Oaxaca and Guerrero. A 500-km stretch of coastline, from Acapulco to Puerto Ángel, is under a hurricane warning.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged residents in the storm’s path to remain indoors and heed official advisories. “Stay tuned to official communications, stay indoors, and do not go out,” she said.

Authorities warned of life-threatening floods and storm surges, especially in low-lying and river-adjacent areas. “If you are in low-lying areas, near rivers, near waterways, it is best for you to go to shelters,” Sheinbaum added.

People living in mountainous regions have been cautioned about potential mudslides due to heavy rainfall.

Officials have set up around 2,000 shelters across Chiapas, Guerrero, and Oaxaca, while more than 18,000 emergency responders have been deployed in preparation for the storm’s impact.

Hurricane Erick is expected to be the first major storm to make landfall in Mexico this hurricane season, which lasts from June to November. The country is still recovering from Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 storm that struck Acapulco in October 2023, killing more than 50 people after it intensified rapidly with little warning.

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