Hurricane Erick strengthens to Category 4, threatens Mexico with deadly floods

Hurricane Erick strengthened to an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 early Thursday as it barreled toward Mexico's Pacific coast, the US National Hurricane Center said, warning of potentially deadly floods. Erick is expected to make landfall on Thursday morning bringing "life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain", the center's latest bulletin said.
Mexican authorities said they were also expecting heavy rain in Chiapas state. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged people to avoid going out and advised those living in low-lying areas or near rivers to move to shelters.
Also read: Hurricane Erick path tracker: Warnings issued for these areas as storm nears Mexico's Pacific coast
In Acapulco, a major port and resort city famous for its nightlife, police with bullhorns walked the beach and drove around town warning residents and holidaymakers of the storm's arrival. Some shops boarded up their windows and operators of tourist boats brought their vessels ashore.
Rainfall began in the late afternoon after a sunny day. About 250 miles (400 kilometers) south of Acapulco, the city of Puerto Escondido and its 30,000 inhabitants braced for the hurricane's effects. Restaurants were already closed despite tourists unwilling to give up their vacations, an AFP journalist noted from the scene.
"They say it's going to hit this side of the coast, so we're taking precautions to avoid having any regrets later," Adalberto Ruiz, a 55-year-old fisherman sheltering his boat, told AFP. Laura Velazquez, national coordinator of civil protection, said the government was using patrols and social media to warn people.
Some 2,000 temporary shelters have been set up in Chiapas, Guerrero and Oaxaca, and hundreds of troops and electricity workers have been deployed to help with any clean-up efforts. Local authorities have suspended classes and closed ports along the coast, including the port of Acapulco, to shipping.
Mexico sees major storms every year, usually between May and November, on both its Pacific and Atlantic coasts. In October 2023, Acapulco was pummeled by Hurricane Otis, a powerful Category 5 storm that killed at least 50 people. Hurricane John, another Category 3 storm that hit Acapulco in September last year, caused about 15 deaths.

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16 hours ago

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Uttarakhand CM hosts foreign diplomats on eve of International Yoga Day

Uttarakhand CM welcomed Ambassadors and High Commissioners of different countries (Image credit: ANI) Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday welcomed Ambassadors and High Commissioners of various countries to cultural programme organised on the eve of International Yoga Day on Friday in Bhararisain. Speaking at the event, CM Singh Dhami said, "When I went to London, Dubai and other countries and when we used to talk among the people there, people used to ask me how many destinations do you have here?. .. Today, there are fewer than fifty, which are at present known as destinations. But I say that you will see a new destination wherever you go in Uttarakhand..." Earlier today, Ambassadors, High Commissioners and representatives of eight countries reached the Vidhan Sabha premises in Bhararisain to participate in the programme organized in on the occasion of International Yoga Day. As soon as they reached Bhararisain, the foreign guests were overwhelmed by the natural beauty, green valleys, clean environment of Gairsain, the summer capital of Uttarakhand. They lavished praise on Gairsain. When the Ambassadors, High Commissioners and representatives of eight countries reached Bhararisain, Gairsain, a glimpse of the rich folk culture of Uttarakhand was presented to welcome them. The guests were given a grand welcome with the echo of Chholia dance and traditional musical instruments. The foreign guests were filled with joy with this cultural welcome and appreciated the cultural heritage of Uttarakhand. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The Ambassadors and High Commissioners also got themselves photographed among the artists performing the traditional Chholiya dance. Mexican Ambassador to India Federico Salas, head of economic affairs at the Mexican embassy Ricardo Daniel Delgado, High Commissioner of Fiji Jagannath Sami, Nepal Ambassador to India Dr Shankar Prasad Sharma, Ambassador of Suriname to India Arunkomar Hardian, Ambassador of Mongolia to India Dambajavin Gambold, Deputy Head of Mission at Latvian Embassy in India Marks Deetons, Minister Counselor of Sri Lanka High Commission of India Lakshmendra Geshan Dissanayake, First Secretary at the Russian Embassy Kristina Ananina and Third Secretary . Katerina Lazareva and Yoga Guru Padmashri Swami Bharat Bhushan were among those present in the Yoga Day programme.

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21 hours ago

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US Rejects Visa Requests For Senegal Women's Basketball Team

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