Mexico City, Mexico (AFP)-A storm bearing down on the southwestern coast of Mexico on the Pacific Ocean strengthened into a hurricane Wednesday, the US National Hurricane Center said.

Hurricane Erick was 255 kilometers (155 miles) from the town of Puerto Angel in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers an hour (75 mph), the meteorological center said.

“Rapid strengthening is expected today, and Erick may reach major hurricane strength when it approaches the coast of southern Mexico Thursday,” the NHC said.

The NHC said Erick, which approached the region earlier as a tropical storm, will produce intense rainfall across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero yielding “life threatening flooding and mudslides.”

Less heavy rains were predicted for the states of Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged the population to be alert.

Mexico sees major storms every year, usually between May and November.

In October 2023, the port of Acapulco was struck by Hurricane Otis, a powerful Category 5 storm that killed at least 50 people and left a trail of destruction.

John, a Category 3 storm that hit in September last year, caused about 15 deaths.