Hurricane Erick, a strong Category 3 storm that struck the Pacific coast of southern Mexico, prompted a significant cleanup effort on Thursday.
After the hurricane damaged infrastructure, including two hospitals, and flooded streets, Puerto Escondido, a popular tourist resort in Oaxaca state, lost phone service and electricity.
No fatalities or injuries have been reported. Shortly after reaching land, the storm weakened to Category 1, but as it moved north, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) predicted that hurricane-force winds and flooding would continue.
In addition to Mexico’s environment ministry warning of waves as high as 10 meters (33 feet), the NHC warned of the possibility of “life-threatening” storm surge in the wake of the hurricane.
