Hurricane Agatha has claimed at least 11 lives, with 20 people missing when Category 2 hurricane struck southern Mexico.
Key points:
- Category 2 storm is the strongest recorded hurricane to make landfall in the eastern Pacific in May
- Bridges have been washed away and roads closed
- River overflows and landslides have resulted in death and destruction
The governor of the southern state of Oaxaca said the rivers overflowed its banks and swept away people from their homes, while other victims were buried under mud and rocks.
“There were basically two reasons,” Governor Alejandro Murat said.
“There were rivers that overflowed, and instead, and the worst part, were landslides.”
Murat said the deaths appeared to be concentrated in several small mountain towns, inland.
But he said there were also reports of three missing children near Huatulco resort.
A restaurant destroyed by Hurricane Agatha in San Isidro del Palmar. (Reuters: José de Jesús Cortés)
Hurricane Agatha made landfall on Monday afternoon (local time) on a sparsely populated stretch of small beach villages and fishing villages in Oaxaca.
The strongest region recorded in May
It was a strong Category Two hurricane, with sustained maximum winds of 169 miles per hour, but quickly lost power as it moved inland through the mountainous interior.
Agatha’s remains were moved northeast to the state of Veracruz.
Murat said electricity had been restored to some communities near the coast, but some bridges had been washed away and landslides blocked several roads.
Agatha made history as the strongest hurricane ever recorded to hit land in May during the East Pacific hurricane season. (Reuters: Jose de Jesus Cortes)
San Isidro del Palmar, just a couple of kilometers inland from the coast, was flooded by the river Tonameca that crosses the town.
Residents walked down the water to the neck to retrieve items they could from their homes, walking cautiously with piles of clothes on their heads and religious figures in their arms.
Argeo Aquino, who has lived in the city all his life, said he only remembered two more times when he saw these floods.
“The houses are completely flooded, so they take everything out,” Aquino said as he looked at his neighbors.
“There are shops, houses.
“More than anything, we have to try to save all the good stuff, because everything else will be erased.”
Saving what he can, a man is inside his house damaged by the floods. (Reuters: José de Jesús Cortés)
Tonameca’s brown water reached the windows of parked cars and minibuses used for local transportation.
Nearby, heavy rain and strong winds hit the beach town of Zipolite, known for its beach with optional clothing and bohemian atmosphere.
The wind howled for about six hours on Monday, according to Silvia Ranfagni, manager of the Casa Kalmar hotel in Zipolite.
“The sound of the wind was very loud, high-pitched,” Ranfagni said.
“It simply came to our notice then.
Many people took refuge in storm shelters as Hurricane Agatha hit the southern coast of Mexico. (AFP: Gil Obed)
“Many trees were felled, the roads had been washed away,” he said.
“Many metal and straw roofs were blown up.”
Hurricane Agatha formed on Sunday and quickly gained power.
Yale Climate Connections metropolitan Jeff Masters said it was the strongest recorded hurricane to make landfall in the eastern Pacific in May.
The strong Category 2 hurricane, with sustained maximum winds of 169 kilometers per hour, ended with major infrastructure. (Reuters: José de Jesús Cortés)
AP / Reuters