Hurricane Erick strengthens to Category 4 off Mexico's coast
iol This frame grab from AFPTV video footage shows the beach of the popular tourist town of Puerto Escondido as Hurricane Erick approaches Mexico's Pacific coast. Picture: AFP
Hurricane Erick has strengthened to an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 storm as it nears Mexico's Pacific coast early Thursday, the US National Hurricane Center said.
Erick's maximum sustained winds have increased to nearly 145 mph (230 kmh), and the storm's center was expected to make landfall in the states of Oaxaca or Guerrero on Mexico's west coast by Thursday morning, it said.
Forecasters warned of intense rainfall across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, which is expected to bring "life-threatening flooding and mudslides."
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.
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