Introduction
Hurricane “Erick” swept through southern Mexico on June 19-20, briefly reaching Category 4 strength over the Pacific before making landfall as a Category 3 storm between Acapulco and Puerto Escondido. The storm rapidly degraded to a tropical storm as it moved inland, causing heavy rains that led to flooding, landslides, blocked roads, and power outages affecting 277,000 users, who also lost communication services.
Key Figures and Context
Claudia Sheinbaum, the President of Mexico City, conducted an aerial tour with her cabinet members to assess the damage caused by Hurricane “Erick” in the 12 most affected municipalities in Oaxaca. The states of Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Michoacán experienced the most significant damage, while recovery efforts, including debris cleanup, service restoration, road reopenings, and damage assessments for support distribution to affected individuals, continue.
Oaxaca
Hurricane Erick made landfall as Category 3 with winds up to 205 km/h on June 19 morning. Its passage through steep areas resulted in torrential rains, landslides, and flooding that collapsed roads and damaged homes, schools, and hospitals, particularly in Puerto Escondido, Pinotepa Nacional, and Salina Cruz.
- A man died after being electrocuted while handling downed cables in San Pedro Pochutla.
- Over 30,000 power and telecommunication outages were reported in Puerto Escondido, though services began to recover quickly.
Authorities activated Plan DN-III-E and deployed nearly 18,000 personnel (Army, Navy, National Guard) and opened hundreds of shelters.
Guerrero
“Erick” brought intense rains causing flooding, landslides, and road blockages in areas like Ometepec, Punta Maldonado, and San Marcos. The most heartbreaking incident was the drowning of a one-year-old child swept away by a swollen river as his mother tried to cross it.
- Home damage, power and communication outages, school closures, and the establishment of at least 582 shelters with rescue and health brigades were reported.
Michoacán
As a tropical storm, “Erick” reached Michoacán on the night of June 19, leaving persistent rains, minor overflows, and complications in rural and mountainous areas, particularly on roads and drainage systems. However, no fatalities or severe damage have been reported so far.
CFE workers use chainsaws to clear a path between Ometepec, Guerrero, and Pinotepa Nacional, Oaxaca.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Claudia Sheinbaum? Claudia Sheinbaum is the President of Mexico City, who led an aerial tour to assess Hurricane “Erick” damage in Oaxaca.
- Which states were hardest hit by Hurricane “Erick”? Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Michoacán experienced the most significant damage from Hurricane “Erick”.
- What were the primary consequences of Hurricane “Erick” in each state?
- Oaxaca: Torrential rains caused landslides, flooding, and road collapses, damaging homes, schools, and hospitals.
- Guerrero: Intense rains led to flooding, landslides, road blockages, home damage, and communication outages.
- Michoacán: Persistent rains caused minor overflows and complications in rural, mountainous areas without reported fatalities or severe damage.
