Hurricane Erick advanced toward Mexico’s Pacific coast on Wednesday, poised to deliver torrential rains, destructive winds, and life-threatening storm surge to southern regions, according to AP News.
The Category 1 storm, located 130 miles (205 km) south-southeast of Puerto Ángel, packs sustained winds of 85 mph (140 kph) and moves northwest at 8 mph (13 kph). The US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) warns Erick is “rapidly intensifying” and will likely reach major hurricane status (Category 3 or higher, with winds over 111 mph) by early Thursday as it approaches landfall.
Projections indicate the storm’s core will pass near Acapulco, a resort still recovering from October 2023’s catastrophic Hurricane Otis, which killed 52 people and devastated infrastructure.
Authorities anticipate “life-threatening flooding and mudslides” across Oaxaca and Guerrero, where up to 20 inches (51 cm) of rain could inundate mountainous terrain. Lighter but hazardous rainfall (3–6 inches) is forecast for Chiapas, Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco.
National Civil Defence Coordinator Laura Velázquez confirmed “torrential” rains and deployed thousands of troops, while Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado closed schools, shuttered Acapulco’s port, and prepared 582 shelters. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged residents to heed evacuation orders.
Coastal communities brace for dual threats: a dangerous storm surge with “large and destructive waves” and rivers likely to overflow. In Puerto Escondido, fishermen hauled boats ashore despite light drizzle, while surfers ignored red-flag warnings at Zicatela Beach, highlighting mixed public responses.
The region’s vulnerability is amplified by lessons from Hurricane Otis, where delayed warnings contributed to significant losses, including sunken vessels in Acapulco’s harbour. With Erick’s rapid intensification mirroring Otis’s behaviour, officials face pressure to avert another humanitarian crisis in a region where steep slopes and saturated soil heighten mudslide risks.
