The National Hurricane Center in the United States has announced that the powerful Hurricane Eric has made landfall in the western state of Oaxaca, Mexico.
According to the Miami-based center, the eye of the hurricane was located approximately 20 miles (30 kilometers) east of Punta Maldonado in Mexico.
The center reported that the maximum sustained winds of the hurricane reached 125 miles (205 kilometers) per hour, and it was moving northwest at a speed of 9 miles (15 kilometers) per hour.
Prior to making landfall, Hurricane Eric’s intensity decreased slightly, dropping from a strong Category 4 to a Category 3 hurricane.
The National Hurricane Center expects Eric to weaken rapidly over the mountainous regions of Mexico and likely dissipate early Friday morning.
Meteorologists have warned that the storm threatens to unleash destructive winds near the eye’s impact point along the shore, as well as sudden flooding and significantly elevated wave heights.
Hurricane Path
Late the day before yesterday, the projected path of Hurricane Eric shifted southward, approaching the resort town of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca, where it has settled over a sparsely populated coastal area between the Oaxaca resort and Acapulco to the northwest of the country.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated in a video message on Wednesday that all activities in the region have been suspended, urging residents to stay indoors or move to shelters if they are in low-lying areas.
Meteorologists expect Hurricane Eric to strike the Pacific coast of Mexico, bringing heavy rainfall, powerful winds, and severe storms.
The National Hurricane Center indicated that rainfall amounts could reach up to 40 centimeters (16 inches) in the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lesser amounts expected in Chiapas, Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco.
There is a significant risk of flooding and landslides due to the anticipated rainfall, particularly in steep terrain.
From May to October, the risk of hurricanes increases along the coastlines of Mexico and the Pacific Gulf regions.
In October 2023, Hurricane Otis, which rapidly intensified, devastated the Acapulco waterfront, once one of the world’s largest resort destinations in the 1960s.
The hurricane resulted in at least 50 fatalities and the disappearance of 30 individuals, as reported by Mexican authorities. In September 2024, Category 3 Hurricane John struck Acapulco again, causing at least 15 deaths.