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- BBC News World
Image source, NOAA
Agatha, the first hurricane of the season in the Pacific, made landfall in southern Mexico on Monday with strong winds and heavy rain.
Mexican authorities worked until Monday night and early Tuesday morning to clear landslide-blocked roads on the country’s southern coast.
Heavy rains caused landslides and rockslides on two highways in Oaxaca, blocking access to part of the state.
The epicenter was reported below the Pacific Ocean floor, however; no tsunami alert was issued.
The Agatha Sapphire-Simpson Type II hurricane caused a landslide with winds of up to 165 km / h. It is very serious to come to Mexico in May as records have been kept.
Earlier, only three hurricanes made landfall in Mexico in May.
Then, as it moved inland, Agatha lost strength, blowing at speeds of about 130 kilometers per hour, and then downgraded to a tropical storm.
Image source, Getty Images
Residents and tourists in Oaxaca were forced to stay in shelters during the heavy rains.
Image source, EPA
NHC forecasts that it will weaken rapidly and end in a tropical storm Monday night and dissolve throughout Tuesday.
Rain in tourist areas
According to the Reuters agency, some cities in the southern state of Oaxaca were left without electricity and a transformer exploded. Telephone connections were also cut off and officers had to be contacted by radio.
Oaxaca, Mexico’s most important spas and tourist destinations, has been experiencing heavy rain and wind since the weekend, according to local press reports.
Image source, EPA
Agatha causes heavy rains in Oaxaca.
In Mexico, Reuters reports that civil defense officials in Oaxaca have evacuated some families from the Pochutla municipality in San Pedro and that at least two highways have been affected by landslides.
Heavy rains have affected many parts of Guatemala and El Salvador, where officials have issued warnings and warned of possible landslides.
Image source, Getty Images
Families were evacuated from their homes before the heavy rains arrived.
On Monday afternoon, hurricane force winds from Agatha (above 119 km / h) extended to 35 km, and tropical storm winds (63 to 118 km / h) extended to 150 km from the eye.
The NHC warned that Agatha would generate heavy rain until Tuesday night. One is expected 25 to 41 cm of rainfall.
The state of Chiapas is at risk of flooding and landslides, as well as Veracruz, Tabasco and East Guerrero, according to the NHC.
Image source, NHC
Hurricane Agatha formed off the coast of Mexico and turned into a tropical storm on Saturday.
The start of the East Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 to November 30.
Wednesday marks the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season, during which meteorologists predict above-average activity, with between 6 and 10 hurricanes expected, with three to six high intensities.
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