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Nature and EnvironmentMexico

Mexico: Hurricane Erick weakens as residents clear debris

Dmytro Hubenko with AP, Reuters
June 20, 2025

After making landfall as a major hurricane along Mexico's coast, Erick weakened to a tropical storm. It left flooded streets, damaged boats and buildings in Oaxaca.

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A gas station is damaged after Hurricane Erick hit near San Jose del Progreso, Oaxaca state, Mexico
Although some damage was caused by Erick, no casualties or injuries were reportedImage: Luis Alberto Cruz/AP Photo/picture alliance

Erick made landfall in Mexico's southern state of Oaxaca as a Category 3 hurricane early Thursday, having been downgraded from a Category 4 shortly beforehand.

It hit with wind speeds of up to 205 kph (around 130 mph), however, by midafternoon, after moving inland, Erick weakened to a tropical storm, with sustained winds weakening to 85 kph.

Officials cautioned that Erick's intense rains remained dangerous.

The US National Hurricane Center has warned that life-threatening flooding and mudslides are likely, particularly in areas with steep terrain.

They have predicted that Guerrero state could receive up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) of rain, while its neighboring states, Oaxaca and Michoacan, could expect up to 4 inches.

People look at damage to a storage building used by fishermen after Hurricane Erick hit near Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca state, Mexico
Before making landfall, Hurricane Erick was downgraded slightly from a powerful Category 4 to a Category 3Image: Luis Alberto Cruz/AP Photo/picture alliance

Erick leaves some damage, but no deaths

After the hurricane made landfall, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said, "The people have reacted very well so far."

According to reports, Erick left flooded streets and damaged boats and buildings in Oaxaca, but residents of the coastal towns have started cleaning up the debris.

At a press conference, Laura Velazquez, the head of Mexico's civil protection agency, said there were no immediate reports of deaths.

She added that two hospitals had been damaged and that the power supply had been compromised.

A woman holds an umbrella as she walks past a fallen tree in Marquelia, Guerrero state, on the day hurricane Erick made landfall on the coast of Oaxaca state, Mexico, June 19, 2025
President Sheinbaum warned that there was still a risk of flooding after Hurricane ErickImage: Henry Romero/REUTERS

Meanwhile, the state-owned utility company CFE reported that more than 123,000 users in Oaxaca had lost power and that service had been restored to 26% of them by late morning.

Oaxaca Governor Salomon Jara said that roads and highways had been significantly damaged.

Edited by: Alex Berry

Dmytro Hubenko Dmytro covers stories in DW's newsroom from around the world with a particular focus on Ukraine.