**As Hurricane Erick bears down on Mexico, residents are urged to take precautions amid fears of devastating flooding and wind damage.**
**Hurricane Erick Intensifies as it Approaches the Mexican Coast**
**Hurricane Erick Intensifies as it Approaches the Mexican Coast**
**An "extremely dangerous" Category 4 hurricane prompts warnings and evacuations across the Pacific region.**
Hurricane Erick has escalated to an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm, with its path now directed toward Mexico's Pacific coastline, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). The storm, boasting maximum sustained winds of 230 km/h (145 mph), is expected to make landfall on Thursday, targeting primarily the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has urged citizens in the storm's trajectory to "stay tuned to official communications, stay indoors, and avoid travel." A hurricane warning is in effect for a 500 km stretch of the Pacific coast, from the resort city of Acapulco to Puerto Ángel, with dire predictions of life-threatening floods and large swells for residents of Guerrero and Oaxaca.
"Inhabitants of low-lying areas, especially those near rivers and waterways, are advised to relocate to designated shelters that have been established in anticipation of this event," Sheinbaum stated. Mountainous regions are also on high alert due to the possibility of mudslides.
To ensure safety, officials have set up roughly 2,000 shelters across Chiapas, Guerrero, and Oaxaca, while over 18,000 first responders have been deployed to aid in preparation for the storm's landfall. This hurricane marks the first of the current season, which spans from June to November.
In a stark reminder of the dangers posed by hurricanes, the aftermath of Hurricane Otis in October 2023 is still fresh in memory, as at least 50 lives were lost when the Category 5 storm struck Acapulco unexpectedly. Residents are encouraged to reach out if they have experiences to share regarding Hurricane Erick, provided it is safe to do so.
