According to US meteorologists, Hurricane Otis, a category five storm that is “extremely dangerous,” has made landfall in southern Mexico.
Just after midnight on Wednesday (06:25 GMT), Otis made landfall close to the well-known Acapulco resort, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The storm is expected to have gusts of up to 165 mph (270 km/h).
In coastal locations, including Acapulco, the NHC issued a warning about “destructive waves” and significant floods.
Between the Guerrero state’s coastal cities of Zihuatanejo and Punta Maldonado, a 350km stretch of coastline is under a hurricane warning.
“A potentially catastrophic storm surge is expected to produce life-threatening coastal flooding near and to the east of where the centre makes landfall,” according to the NHC.
“Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.”
Additionally, Otis was forecast to deliver up to 20 inches (51 cm) of rain on Friday across Guerrero and parts of the western coast of the neighboring state of Oaxaca.
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the president of Mexico, recommended citizens to seek refuge in temporary shelters far from rivers, streams, and ravines.
Guerrero’s officials have started preparing emergency shelters prior to the hurricane’s arrival.
Additionally, all state-wide school sessions have been canceled.
Soldiers have been policing the beach area in Acapulco.
After Tropical Storm Max made landfall earlier this month, considerable flooding already occurred in several areas of Mexico’s Pacific coastline. Two deaths were reportedly caused by the hurricane in Guerrero, according to local media.
A few days later, one man was reported dead following the landfall of Hurricane Lidia in the state of Nayarit, which is located northwest of Guerrero.