1 day Ago
It was centered about 55 miles (85 kilometers) southwest of Puerto Angel and 125 miles (200 kilometers) southeast of Punta Maldonado moving northwest at 9 mph (15 kph).
They cautioned that further strengthening was possible and that communities near where the storm was expected to make landfall could sustain wind damage in the Category 2 hurricane. The storm’s most recent course had edged slightly south late Wednesday, when it entered running room off the coast, closer to the resort city of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca, aiming its center over a more sparsely inhabited stretch of coast between that city and Acapulco.
Emergency Steps and Tension Climbs
The president of Mexico City, Claudia Sheinbaum, said all activities in the region had been suspended and called on residents to stay inside or move to shelters, particularly if they were in low-lying areas. By nightfall in Puerto Escondido, waves had already started flooding parts of the esplanade and waterfront restaurants. Local fishermen had pulled their boats ashore earlier in the day, and surfers were still riding waves at Zicatela Beach despite the red flag warnings.
Acapulco residents, who are still picking up the pieces after Hurricane Otis in 2023, were already hunkering down. The Category 5 storm left at least 52 people dead and inflicted widespread destruction on the city’s hotel zone. This time, people were more ready — boarding up storefronts, topping off gas tanks, stocking their larders. Verónica Gómez, an employee of a shipping company, lugged jugs of water and a few cans of food through the streets and said the memory of Otis had made them more cautious.
The governor of the state of Guerrero, Evelyn Salgado, said that schools would remain shut and that 582 shelters had been prepared for evacuees. Acapulco’s port was already closed since Tuesday night. Salgado also said that fishing and tourism operators were warned to anchor boats.
Heavy Rains and Mudslide Risk
Forecasters expected heavy rainfall in several southern states. Up to 16 inches (40 centimeters) of rain is expected in Oaxaca and Guerrero from Erick, with somewhat lesser amounts in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco. That rain brings with it the danger of both flooding and, especially in the mountainous coastal areas, mudslides, particularly as rivers are expected to swell.
The national civil defense coordinator of Mexico, Laura Velázquez, warned that Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas would experience “intense rains torrential in intensity.” The authorities have been concentrating on cleaning up the drainage systems and strengthening infrastructure that could lead to water disasters. In Acapulco, police, National Guard, and electrical company trucks could be seen on the preventative action.
Erick is rapidly developing so there is a concern there. It doubled its wind speed in just 24 hours — a phenomenon called rapid intensification. And last year had 34 such cases globally, double the usual number. These abrupt switches make it that much tougher to predict and that much riskier for unprepared communities.
Memories of Otis Linger
Acapulco is still reeling from Hurricane Otis, both psychologically and physically. Many people are terrified of a repeat disaster and acting accordingly. Carlos Ozuna Romero, a restaurant owner whose establishment was destroyed by Otis, was making ready with his staff, storing furniture, and protecting themselves from what could prove to be the storm of their lives.
Evelyn Salgado, also declared that movement would be curtailed in Acapulco and the neighboring beach towns from 8 p.m., with all the schools across Guerrero closed again Thursday. President Sheinbaum reiterated her advice to residents to heed authorities and to shelter until the storm passes.
