A satellite image taken at 5:10 a.m. ET shows what’s left of Erick. AP Photo
Rain from the remains of Hurricane Erick flooded rivers and soaked southern Mexico on Friday. Officials continued checking damage and watching rivers in the states of Guerrero and Oaxaca. The storm hit early Thursday and caused serious concerns about landslides and flooding in the mountain regions.
Child dies in rising river
President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the death of a one-year-old boy. The child slipped from his mother’s arms and drowned while they were crossing a swollen river in San Marcos, southeast of Acapulco. Sheinbaum also announced her visit to the affected region to see the situation firsthand.
Power and roads slowly being restored
Power outages hit about 277,000 people. Authorities said they restored electricity to half of them by Friday. Soldiers, marines, and the National Guard worked to clear debris and reopen blocked roads. Many roads were cut off due to landslides and fallen power lines.
A person walks through scattered debris after Hurricane Erick struck near Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca, Mexico, on Thursday, June 19, 2025. AP Photo
Erick made landfall as a strong storm
Erick reached the southern Pacific coast Thursday morning as a Category 3 hurricane. It struck between Acapulco and Puerto Escondido and later weakened over the mountains of Michoacan. Before landfall, the storm had strengthened into a powerful Category 4 hurricane within hours. Experts said it grew fast due to perfect storm conditions, making it harder to predict.
Flood warnings issued
National Civil Defense Coordinator Laura Velázquez said a river in Juchitan, Oaxaca overflowed, forcing families to leave their homes. Weather experts warned that some areas could receive up to 16 inches of rain. These included Oaxaca and Guerrero, and smaller amounts were expected in other states like Chiapas and Colima. The risk of mudslides remained high in hilly areas.
Businesses reopen, schools stay shut
Shops, restaurants, and supermarkets in Acapulco slowly reopened on Friday. But schools stayed closed as authorities continued to check damage and clean up debris. Though skies remained cloudy, the heavy rain had stopped.
On June 19, 2025, near Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca, Mexico, a person clears sand from a boat that had been moved to safety before Hurricane Erick made landfall. AP Photo
Storm brings back Otis memories
Many in Acapulco were more prepared for Erick, remembering the horror of Hurricane Otis in 2023. That storm, a Category 5 hurricane, caught residents off guard and caused massive destruction. At least 52 people died then, and most hotels suffered heavy damage. Security guard Juan Carlos Castañeda said the memory of Otis still haunted the city.
