Hurricane Erick Slams Southern Mexico, Damage Assessment Underway

 

PulseNext Report | June 20, 2025

PUERTO ESCONDIDO, Oaxaca – Communities along Mexico’s southern Pacific coast launched massive cleanup operations Thursday after Hurricane Erick barreled ashore as a Category 3 storm, unleashing destructive winds and catastrophic flooding. While no fatalities were reported, the hurricane crippled infrastructure and left popular tourist hubs in darkness.

Key Developments:

·            Tourist Hub Paralyzed: Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca state bore the brunt, with widespread power outages, severed phone lines, and flooded streets. Two hospitals sustained damage, and merchant Luis Alberto Gil described unprecedented flooding: "Water had never hit with this magnitude."

·         Rapid Weakening: Erick downgraded to Category 1 shortly after landfall but continued generating hurricane-force winds and "life-threatening" storm surges. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned of waves up to 10 meters (33 feet).

·         Massive Power Outages: State utility CFE reported over 120,000 users lost electricity in Oaxaca, with only 25% restored by Thursday afternoon. Peak gusts hit 205 km/h (125 mph) before easing.

Emergency Response:

    Hundreds of troops deployed to Puerto Escondido to clear debris, pump floodwaters, and assess structural damage. In Acapulco – 400 km north – deserted streets and boarded-up shops reflected successful evacuations. Residents heeded government warnings, stocking supplies and sheltering ahead of impact.

Alerts remain active for:

·         Deadly mudslides in Oaxaca and Guerrero states

·         Coastal storm surges

·         Flash floods in low-lying areas
President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed 2,000 shelters opened across Chiapas, Guerrero, and Oaxaca, urging residents near rivers to evacuate: "Safety must come first."

       The relatively limited human toll brought relief to a region still scarred by 2023’s Hurricane Otis, which killed 50 people in Acapulco as a surprise Category 5 storm. Erick’s more predictable trajectory allowed coordinated preparations.

     The NHC projects Erick will dissipate by late Thursday, but recovery challenges loom. Officials prioritize restoring power, clearing roads, and preventing disease outbreaks from stagnant water. With hurricane season intensifying, Mexico’s disaster response faces renewed scrutiny.

        Erick tests Mexico’s revamped hurricane response system after Otis exposed critical gaps. Successful prevention of casualties marks progress, but infrastructure vulnerabilities in tourist zones threaten economic stability during peak travel season. Climate scientists warn warming oceans may fuel more rapid intensification of Pacific storms.

PulseNext will continue monitoring recovery efforts.

 

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