The first hurricane n of the season it was formed on Sunday in southern Mexico and quickly strengthened. Hurricane Agatha hit land before its anticipated landfall along a stretch of Pacific shoreline resorts and fishing towns.
Hurricane Agatha could make a strong landfall Monday close to category 3 in an area close to the towns of Puerto Escondido and Puerto Ángel, in the south of the state of Oaxaca, a region that includes the tourist communities of Huatulco, Mazunte and Zipolite .
On Sunday mid-afternoon, the United States National Hurricane Center reported Agatha was reported to have maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h (110 mph) and its vortex was located about 295 kilometers (185 miles) west of Puerto Angel. It is moving north at 1 mph (2 km/h). Agatha’s winds could reach 120 mph (193 km/h) when it makes landfall.
A hurricane alert is in effect between the port of Salina Cruz and the Chacahua lagoons.
The State Coordination of Civil Protection of Oaxaca said that the outer bands of the hurricane they had already begun to hit the shore. The agency published images of fishermen mooring their boats on the beach to protect them from the storm.
The municipal authorities of Huatulco ordered the absolute closure of all the beaches of the tourist center, including its famous seven bays, many of which are only accessible by sea. They also closed schools and began setting up shelters.
To the east in Zipolite, a town known for its nude beach and bohemian atmosphere, staff at the small Casa Kalmar hotel picked up the all the beach furniture and installed. wooden shutters to prevent strong winds from blowing out doors and windows.
“The biggest concern here is it’s the air, the wind,” Silvia Ranfagni said.
With only one guest and many cancellations due to the hurricane, Ranfagni planned to await Agatha’s arrival at the property, which is located three or four blocks from the beach.
“I’m going to stay locked up here. with my animals”, he declared, referring to his dog and cats.
The Centro Mexicano de la Tortuga—an old slaughterhouse converted into a conservation center in Mazunte—mdash; announced what will be closed to visitors until further notice due to the arrival of the cyclone.
The National Hurricane Center warned that of dangerous coastal flooding and destructive waves near the area where Agatha will touch down. land.
The storm is forecast to dump 10 to 16 inches (250 to 400 mm) of rain in parts of Oaxaca, with maximums of 20 inches (500 millimeters) in isolated areas and the possibility of flash flooding and landslides.
Because the path of the storm could take it towards the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region, the Hurricane Center indicated that there is a possibility that its remnants could resurface over the Gulf of Mexico.
In northern Guatemala, a woman and her six children died on Saturday after a landslide crushed the ocean. her house, but the incident does not seem to be related to Agatha’s presence.