MEXICO CITY: Hurricane Erick slammed into Mexico’s southern coast early Thursday, leaving widespread damage across the state of Oaxaca but no reported fatalities, according to the National Civil Protection Coordination.
The storm, which reached Category 3 strength before landfall, uprooted trees, flooded towns, and knocked out power to more than 123,000 residents.
Erick made landfall near Puerto Escondido around 5:30 a.m. local time, bringing torrential rains, strong winds, and powerful waves. Though it weakened to a tropical storm by mid-afternoon, the destruction in its wake was already apparent.
The storm crippled infrastructure across the region, damaging at least 15 road sections and severing access to several rural communities. In the town of Juchitan, overflowing rivers inundated streets and forced hundreds of families to flee their homes. In San Jose del Progreso, large tracts of banana and palm plantations were decimated.
“There are many boats sunk here,” said Eduardo Gonzalez, a fisherman in Puerto Escondido helping his colleagues clear debris. Damaged vessels, collapsed buildings, and flooded roads have slowed recovery efforts in the coastal region.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center warned that Erick’s rainfall—forecast to reach up to 8 inches in some areas—still posed a significant threat. “Life-threatening flooding and mudslides are expected, especially in areas of steep terrain,” it said. Waves of up to 10 meters (33 feet) were also reported by Mexico’s environment ministry.
Two hospitals suffered structural damage, and the state-owned power company CFE said power was knocked out to over 123,000 users in Oaxaca. By late morning, only 26 percent of affected customers had electricity restored.
Governor Salomon Jara described the situation as critical, confirming that roads, highways, and key infrastructure had taken a significant hit. Emergency services remained deployed across the region as clearing and restoration efforts began under challenging conditions.
Meteorologists said Erick’s rapid intensification near the coastline should be taken as a warning for the rest of the hurricane season. According to AccuWeather, Erick is the earliest major hurricane to make landfall in the eastern Pacific, fueled by unusually warm sea temperatures.
“Rapid intensification near coastal cities is a major concern this hurricane season,” said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert. “Water temperatures continue to rise, increasing the risk for stronger storms forming closer to land.”
Vulnerable areas like Acapulco, still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Otis in 2023, remain on high alert as the season progresses.
