Hurricane Erick makes landfall in Mexico as Category 4

The major storm on Thursday morning reached southern Mexico’s Pacific coast with sustained winds of nearly 125 miles per hour, according to the National Hurricane Center. It landed in the western Mexican state of Oaxaca, where authorities issued a hurricane warning between the coastal cities of Acapulco and Puerto Angel. Hurricane Erick formed in the Pacific Ocean earlier this week and quickly strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane as it approached land—indicating it was capable of downing power lines, snapping trees, and severely damaging houses. Forecasters anticipated Erick would bring a dangerous storm surge, heavy rain, coastal flooding, and mudslides.

How are people in the storm’s path preparing? Officials issued hurricane warnings for communities along the coast and urged residents to protect their property and to take shelter. Authorities suspended all beach activities in communities along the coast, according to Guerrero state Gov. Evelyn Salgado. Over 50 people died in the region last year when Category 5 Hurricane Otis slammed into the coast.

Dig deeper: Read my report about organizations helping provide shelter for the victims of Hurricane Helene.