Hurricane Erick leaves two dead and material damage after passing through southern Mexico

Mexico City. Hurricane Erick, which weakened overnight Thursday to a low-pressure system, has claimed the lives of at least two people and caused serious material damage in southern Mexico. According to official sources, a man died of electrocution after touching high-voltage cables while helping to remove debris left by the natural phenomenon in the municipality of San Pedro Pochutla, in the state of Oaxaca. In another tragic incident, a minor lost their life after being swept away by a stream when their mother, who was carrying them, tried to cross it in the town of San Marcos, in the district of Guerrero. This sad event highlights the dangers associated with the heavy rains and currents generated by the hurricane.

Read more: Hurricane Rafael reaches category 2 as it heads to Cuba

President Claudia Sheinbaum thanked the population for heeding the authorities’ calls to stay in their homes and take precautions against the phenomenon. However, the material damage continues to be extensive, especially in coastal areas, where roofs of homes and businesses are reported destroyed, in addition to debris scattered on public roads. Erick, who was 155 kilometers from the port of Acapulco, weakened to a low-pressure system with sustained winds of 45 km/h, according to the latest reports from the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC). Regional authorities continue to assess the magnitude of the damage and work on rescue and cleanup efforts.