Cleanup efforts are underway in Southern Mexico after Hurricane Erick hit the Pacific coast as a Category 3 storm and then weakened. Thankfully, no injuries or fatalities have been reported. With schools and ports closed in response to ongoing flood warnings, authorities have deployed resources for recovery efforts. Residents are cautioned to remain safe as assessments continue.
Cleanup efforts commenced in Southern Mexico on Thursday following the impact of Hurricane Erick, which made landfall as a fierce Category 3 storm before weakening inland. The tourist haven of Puerto Escondido, located in Oaxaca state, is bustling with residents and emergency crews working to pump out flooded streets and remove debris caused by the storm’s high winds, which toppled trees and street signs. Moreover, many boats have been buried under piles of sand on the beach.
Remarkably, there have been no reports of fatalities or injuries in the affected areas. However, much of Puerto Escondido’s population of approximately 30,000 has been left in the dark—with electricity and cellphone service disrupted. “The water had never hit with this magnitude,” mentioned local merchant Luis Alberto Gil, whose shop was among the many that experienced flooding.
In a response to the disaster, the government deployed hundreds of troops and workers from the electric company to facilitate cleanup operations. Despite the storm diminishing to a Category 1, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued warnings that flooding rains and strong winds would continue as Erick moved northward. Early reports indicated winds had reached 125 miles per hour but decreased later to 85 mph.
An alert remains active for potentially life-threatening flooding and mudslides in Oaxaca and Guerrero, with sustained wind gusts continuing for hours. The NHC provided additional warnings of a dangerous storm surge, possibly resulting in serious coastal flooding and damaging waves. To safeguard residents, authorities shuttered schools, airports, and ports—including those in Acapulco, suspending non-essential activities across several states, including Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco.
According to the NHC’s latest advisory, continued weakening of Erik is expected, and estimates indicate the storm is likely to dissipate by nightfall. As of Thursday afternoon, Mexico’s civil protection agency reported material damage but confirmed no fatalities.
In wake of the storm, assessments will be conducted once conditions permit access to affected communities. Mexico typically faces significant storms during the May to November season along both coastlines. Just last month, Hurricane Otis devastated Acapulco as a Category 5 storm, resulting in numerous casualties. Another storm, Hurricane John, which hit in September 2022, accounted for around 15 deaths.
President Claudia Sheinbaum had cautioned residents to stay indoors and advised those in flood-prone areas to seek shelter, with nearly 2,000 shelters prepared in Chiapas, Guerrero, and Oaxaca. “Since (Erick) just made landfall, we are in contact with the Defense department and Navy, who are in the area, and we will be able to inform in a few hours what the effects are on these populations,” Sheinbaum stated during her press briefing Thursday.
In Puerto Escondido, businesses remained closed, even though some tourists chose to ride out the storm in their accommodations. Further north in Acapulco, a key resort town known for its nightlife, the streets were mostly empty as residents complied with stay-at-home orders prior to the storm’s arrival. Many shops were boarded up, and locals stocked up on essentials the day before, such as food, water, and gasoline to prepare for the worst.
Hurricane Erick’s aftermath leaves Southern Mexico in a challenging recovery, particularly in Puerto Escondido where flooding and damage are evident. Thankfully, no injuries or deaths have been recorded. Emergency services are busy with cleanup operations while warnings about potential flooding and mudslides remain in place. The storm highlighted ongoing concerns, as memories of past hurricanes like Otis loom large. Authorities continue to assess the impacts as communities begin the long road to recovery.
Original Source: www.kpvi.com
