Mexico Braces as Hurricane Erick Makes Oaxaca Landfall

Mexico Braces as Hurricane Erick Makes Oaxaca Landfall \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Hurricane Erick made landfall early Thursday as a Category 3 storm near the Oaxaca–Guerrero border, packing 75 mph winds before weakening over land. It skirted the resort towns of Acapulco and Puerto Escondido, causing heavy rainfall and power outages. Officials warned of flash floods, mudslides, and prolonged impacts as the storm heads inland.

Quick Looks

• Landfall: Category 3 hurricane struck near the Oaxaca–Guerrero border before weakening inland.
• Path: Passed between Acapulco and Puerto Escondido, mostly avoiding populated resorts.
• Rainfall: Up to 16 inches expected in Oaxaca and Guerrero, raising flood and landslide risks.
• Damage: Downed trees, power outages, blocked roads, lake flooding in Huatulco hospital.
• Leadership: President Sheinbaum: “people have reacted very well”; Governor Salgado urges vigilance.
• Shelters: Guerrero shelters housing evacuees; Punta Maldonado shelter received 757 families.
• Post-Otis: Acapulco, still reeling from Hurricane Otis (2023), prepared aggressively.
• Emergency Response: National Guard and power crews cleared canals, secured infrastructure.

Deep Look

Hurricane Erick’s landfall in southern Mexico early Thursday morning marked the latest in a series of extreme weather events reshaping the country’s vulnerable coastal landscapes. As a Category 3 storm at landfall—downgraded from its earlier Category 4 status—Erick delivered both the force of high winds and the lingering hazard of catastrophic rainfall to the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero. Though weakened after crashing into Mexico’s coastal mountain ranges, the hurricane’s destructive potential continued to ripple through the region.

Landfall and trajectory

According to the National Hurricane Center, Erick’s center landed just north-northwest of Punta Maldonado. Its 75 mph sustained winds—just above hurricane strength—thrashed a narrow band of the Pacific coast between the major resort hubs of Acapulco and Puerto Escondido. The hurricane’s precision landfall avoided direct hits on those urban centers but left a trail of damage through rural coastal villages, where fishing and agriculture dominate local economies.

The landfall site, though sparsely populated, sits in a low-lying, environmentally sensitive zone prone to flooding and landslides. By midday Thursday, Erick was already weakening over land, moving northwest at 12 mph. Yet this inland progression is part of what meteorologists find most concerning: as Erick slowed and stalled over mountainous terrain, the risk of torrential rainfall-induced disasters surged.

Rainfall and risk of disaster

Forecasters warned of rainfall totals up to 16 inches (40 cm) in parts of Oaxaca and Guerrero. These torrential rains, when combined with the rugged topography of the region, elevate the chances of flash floods and deadly landslides. Lesser rainfall was expected in Chiapas, Colima, Jalisco, and Michoacán, but all were advised to remain on alert for weather-related emergencies through the weekend.

Already, signs of disruption began emerging. Laura Velázquez, head of Mexico’s National Civil Defense agency, confirmed water intrusion at a public hospital in Huatulco and reported widespread power outages, road closures from landslides, and blocked access to several mountain communities. Though no injuries were immediately reported, officials feared that conditions could worsen quickly if rains continue.

Shelters and government response

The government’s proactive response to Erick stood in stark contrast to the chaos that followed 2023’s Hurricane Otis. Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado noted that 21 shelters were established across her state, including one in Punta Maldonado that sheltered over 750 people. President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the public’s preparedness and response, noting that “the people have reacted very well so far.”

But Salgado also emphasized that complacency could be dangerous: “Erick is still a danger with the intense rains it could drop on our state in the coming hours.”

Acapulco’s vigilant preparedness

Acapulco, still emotionally and physically scarred from Hurricane Otis, which killed over 50 people and destroyed most of its hotel infrastructure, was in high-alert mode. National Guard units and utility workers were stationed throughout the city, especially in flood-prone areas. Power crews focused on clearing drains, securing power lines, and minimizing the kind of long-term outages that plagued the city two years ago

Local residents, too, were more cautious this time. Marcial Gallardo, a 60-year-old waiter who lost part of his home during Otis, told reporters he had secured all loose belongings and even refrained from going to work. Despite venturing out for his customary morning swim with his son, he admitted that “we’re not taking any chances anymore.”

Meteorological surprise

Erick’s rapid intensification—doubling in strength in less than 24 hours—exemplifies a disturbing trend in modern tropical storm behavior. In 2024 alone, the Atlantic and Pacific saw over 30 storms that fit the rapid intensification profile, compared to the historical average of 15–17. This pattern makes forecasting more difficult and shortens the window of opportunity for emergency responses.

Hurricane experts say that warmer sea temperatures, possibly linked to climate change, contribute to such explosive intensification. These short, powerful bursts of development leave little time for coastal communities to prepare, increasing the odds of catastrophe when storms make landfall.

Next steps and recovery

As Erick continues to weaken over Mexico’s southern terrain, its legacy will likely be one of soaking rains and mudslides. Emergency responders remain on standby, particularly in isolated communities where infrastructure is fragile and communications are often poor.

Environmental and humanitarian aid groups are also monitoring the situation. While the initial impact spared major urban centers, prolonged rain could still wreak havoc in mountainous and riverside towns where rescue access is challenging.

The Mexican government’s coordinated response, combined with lessons learned from past storms like Otis, will now be tested in real time. What happens over the next 48 hours could determine the long-term damage inflicted by Hurricane Erick—not only in terms of infrastructure, but in public trust and future disaster resilience.

For now, the residents of Oaxaca and Guerrero remain on edge, bracing not for wind—but for the water still to come.

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