The hurricane "Eric" struck the western coast of Mexico on Sunday evening, after being classified as a Category 3 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, amid warnings of severe flooding, landslides, and significant damage to infrastructure.

"Eric" had previously reached Category 4 strength before losing some of its intensity as it approached land, but it is still classified as a "very dangerous" hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Centers in the United States (NHC).

Widespread preparedness and mass evacuations

The Mexican authorities declared a state of emergency in several coastal states, including Guerrero and Michoacán, and thousands of residents were evacuated from areas at risk of flooding and landslides.

The Mexican Meteorological Service warned that the storm could bring:

Winds exceeding 200 kilometers per hour

Heavy rains of up to 300 mm

A dangerous rise in wave levels that could lead to coastal erosion

Government response and environmental concerns

The Mexican Civil Protection stated that emergency teams were deployed in advance to areas expected to be heavily affected, noting that there is coordination with armed forces and local authorities to ensure the safety of citizens.

Environmental organizations also expressed concerns that the hurricane could destroy some fragile coastal ecosystems, in addition to threatening agricultural crops at the peak of the harvest season.