The first hurricane of the season in the eastern Pacific intensified on Sunday as it headed to the south coast of Mexico, with maximum strong winds of 177 km / h, which are expected to worsen before the storm reaches land on Monday.
“Further strengthening is expected over the next 12 to 24 hours and Agatha is projected to become a major hurricane when it reaches the southern Mexican coast on Monday,” the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Florida said.
From 16:00 on Sunday time in Mexico City, Hurricane Agatha was located about 300 kilometers southwest of Puerto Angel, according to NHC.
Hurricane warnings have been issued for parts of the Oaxaca coast stretching from Salina Cruz to Lagunas de Chacaua, the NHC reported.
“The tidal storm is expected to lead to extremely dangerous coastal floods,” the statement said.
Hurricane Agatha is seen off the Pacific coast of Mexico on Sunday in this satellite image. (NOAA / Associated Press)
In Oaxaca, authorities have set up 200 shelters in the coastal region with a capacity to house 26,000 people, according to the local Civil Protection.
About 5,000 tourists are expected to be in the impact zone, which is home to popular beach destinations.
The storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall to the southern states of Oaxaca, Chiapas and Guerrero, the NHC said, which could cause “animal-threatening flash floods and landslides.”
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