Latest news with #LauraVelázquez
Gulf Today
21-06-2025
- Climate
- Gulf Today
Mexico assesses damage from hurricane
Authorities in southern Mexico were still assessing damage and watching rising rivers on Friday as rain from the remnants of Hurricane Erick doused the region. Torrential rains over steep coastal mountains and the landslides and flooding they could generate became the ongoing concern for officials after Erick dissipated following a landfall early Thursday on a sparsely populated stretch of coast. The storm's death toll remained at one Friday, a 1-year-old boy who drowned in a swollen river, President Claudia Sheinbaum said. She also said she planned to visit the affected region Friday. Power had been restored to about half the 277,000 customers who lost it and soldiers, marines and National Guard were helping to remove debris and reopen roads in Guerrero and Oaxaca state where Erick passed. Erick came ashore down southern Mexico's Pacific coast in the morning as a Category 3 major hurricane, but it landed between the resort cities of Acapulco and Puerto Escondido. It dissipated on Thursday night over the mountains in Michoacan state. Authorities reported landslides, blocked highways, downed power lines and some flooding as coastal residents, above all in Acapulco, took the storm seriously with memories of the devastating Hurricane Otis in 2023 still fresh in their minds. Erick had strengthened to a Category 4 storm as it approached the coast but weakened before making landfall to a Category 3. Having doubled in strength in less than a day, Erick churned through an ideal environment for quick intensification. Last year, there were 34 incidents of rapid intensification - when a storm gains at least 55 kph in 24 hours - which is about twice the average and causes problems with forecasting, according to the hurricane centre. Authorities had warned the heavy rain would become the problem. On Friday, National Civil Defense Coordinator Laura Velázquez said a river in Juchitan, Oaxaca had spilled over its banks and some families had moved to shelter. Forecasters had expected up to 40 centimetres of rain could fall across Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lesser totals in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states. The rainfall threatened flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain. Late Thursday, Guerrero state Civil Defense Director Roberto Arroyo said that a 1-year-old boy had died in San Marcos, an inland community southeast of Acapulco in the path of Erick. Associated Press
Qatar Tribune
19-06-2025
- Climate
- Qatar Tribune
Hurricane Erick, classified as ‘dangerous', makes landfall in Mexico
Mexico CITYcColor:> Hurricane Erick, which has been classified as dangerous, has reached Mexico. The storm made landfall in the south-western state of Oaxaca on Thursday with wind speeds of 205 kilometres per hour, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami. The storm brought heavy rain and strong winds, causing at least nine landslides on country roads, said the coordinator of Mexico's National Civil Protection Agency, Laura Velázquez. Erick also reportedly caused trees and power poles to topple. There were power outages and flooding, including in a hospital. According to preliminary official reports, there have been no fatalities so far in the affected states of Guerrero and Oaxaca. Shortly before making landfall, Erick weakened from the second-highest hurricane category 4 to category 3. The NHC had previously stated that it was an 'extremely dangerous' storm. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged continued caution in her daily press conference. (DPA)
Miami Herald
19-06-2025
- Climate
- Miami Herald
Hurricane Erick makes landfall in Mexico
MEXICO CITY - Hurricane Erick, which has been classified as dangerous, has reached Mexico. The storm made landfall in the southwestern state of Oaxaca on Thursday with wind speeds reaching about 127 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. The storm brought heavy rain and strong winds, causing at least nine landslides on country roads, said the coordinator of Mexico's National Civil Protection Agency, Laura Velázquez. Erick also reportedly caused trees and power poles to topple. There were power outages and flooding, including in a hospital. According to preliminary official reports, there have been no fatalities so far in the affected states of Guerrero and Oaxaca. Shortly before making landfall, Erick weakened from the second-highest hurricane Category 4 to Category 3. The NHC had previously stated that it was an "extremely dangerous" storm. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged continued caution in her daily press conference. Although the storm is expected to weaken further over land, she said the danger, especially from heavy rain, is not over. Authorities warned of devastating wind damage and life-threatening flooding. A high danger level is in effect for the coastal section between the resorts of Acapulco and Puerto Ángel. Erick is the second hurricane of this year's Pacific season, following Barbara. The hurricane season begins in the Pacific on May 15 and in the Atlantic on June 1. It officially lasts in both regions until Nov. 30. In October 2023, Otis, a category 5 storm, killed at least 52 people in Acapulco and caused significant damage. According to experts, increasing global warming raises the likelihood of severe storms. _____ Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hurricane Erick slams Mexico's Pacific Coast as a powerful Cat 3 storm
Hurricane Erick, which rapidly intensified overnight, made landfall Thursday morning on Mexico's Pacific Coast as a powerful Category 3 storm, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. Erick came ashore in Mexico's western state of Oaxaca packing sustained winds of 125 mph and heavy rain, according to the NHC. The hurricane was located on Thursday morning about 20 miles east of Punta Maldonado and was moving northwest at about 9 mph, according to the NHC. Before making landfall, the Erick had spooled up to an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, but was downgraded to a Category 3 before making landfall, the NHC center reported. Erick is the first Pacific Category 3 hurricane on record to make landfall over Mexico in June. A hurricane warning remained in effect Thursday from Acapulco to Puerto Angel. Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum said the hurricane made landfall between 5 a.m. and a.m. local time in Pinotepa Nacional in the state of Oaxaca. She said prior to making landfall, Erick's heavy rain and strong wind caused damage mainly to the coast of Oaxaca and in the Costa Chica of Guerrero, an area along the south coast of the state of Guerrero. Laura Velázquez, coordinator of the Mexico's National Disaster Agency, said there are 14 municipalities affected by rain and winds. "We have a hospital where water has entered in Huatulco, a river overflow in Ciudad Ixtepec, nine road landslides, stranded vehicles, fallen trees and poles," Velázquez said. There have been no immediate reports of deaths or injuries. MORE: From severe storms to sizzling heat, Midwest and Northeast in store for whiplash weather change The major hurricane appeared to hit he coastline between the resort towns of Acapulco and Puerto Escondido in an area near the border of Oaxaca and Guerrero states, according to the NHC. As it sweeps across the state of Oaxaca, Erick is expected to slam parts of the region with strong winds and heavy rain for most of Thursday before weakening over land by Friday. MORE: Video How the outlook for hurricane season could be impacted by climate change Erick will produce heavy rainfall up to 6 to 8 inches across southeastern Guerrero and west-coastal Oaxaca through Friday and likely trigger life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides -- especially in areas of steep terrain. Erick formed as a tropical storm early Tuesday in the Pacific Ocean near southern Mexico and rapidly intensified, reaching hurricane strength by Wednesday, according to the NHC.
Newsweek
19-06-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Hurricane Erick Live Tracker Maps
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Hurricane Erick made landfall in Mexico's southern state of Oaxaca early Thursday, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said, and it was downgraded slightly from a powerful Category 4 to a Category 3—though still a major hurricane. The hurricane's center was located about 20 miles (30 kilometers) east of Punta Maldonado. Its maximum sustained winds were clocked at 125 mph (205 kph). It was moving northwest at 9 mph (15 kph), the hurricane center said. Erick is expected to rapidly weaken as it crashes into the coastal mountains of southern Mexico, and the system is likely to dissipate late Thursday or early Friday, the hurricane center said. The storm threatened to unleash destructive winds near where the eye crashes ashore, flash floods, and a dangerous storm surge, forecasters said. Having doubled in strength in less than a day, Erick churned through an ideal environment for quick intensification. Last year, there were 34 incidents of rapid intensification—when a storm gains at least 35 mph in 24 hours—which is about twice as many as average and causes problems with forecasting, according to the hurricane center. Hurricane Erick Live Weather Radar At first light Thursday, Acapulco awoke under ominous dark clouds, but without a drop of rain and small waves lapping at its central beach. However, the storm was forecast to move northwest just inland up the coast through midday, bringing heavy rain to the resort and the mountains that tower dramatically above it. Still, it appeared Acapulco had dodged the worst at least in terms of Erick's strong winds. Late Wednesday, Erick's projected path had crept south, closer to the resort city of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca state, with Acapulco up the coast to the northwest. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a video message Wednesday night that all activities in the region were suspended and she urged people to stay in their homes or to move to shelters if they lived in low-lying areas. Hurricane Erick Wind Tracker Forecasters expected Erick to lash Mexico's Pacific coast with heavy rain, strong winds and a fierce storm surge. Rains of up to 16 inches (40 centimeters) could fall across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lesser totals in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states, the center's advisory said. The rainfall threatened flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain. Laura Velázquez, Mexico's national civil defense coordinator, said Erick was forecast to bring "torrential" rains to Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas in southern Mexico. The mountainous region along the coast is especially prone to mudslides, with numerous rivers at risk of flooding. Hurricane Erick Rain, Thunderstorms Map This article uses reporting by The Associated Press.
