The first hurricane of the season has formed off Mexico's southern Pacific coast and rapidly gained power before an expected strike along a stretch of tourist beaches and fishing towns.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Agatha could make landfall as a category three hurricane on Monday afternoon or evening near Puerto Escondido and Puerto Angel in the southern state of Oaxaca, a region that includes the resorts of Huatulco, Mazunte and Zipolite.
The recently formed hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 175km/m on Sunday, just under the threshold for a category three, the US National Hurricane Center said.
It was centred about 250km southwest of Puerto Angel and was heading northeast at 7km/h.
The center said Agatha could have winds of 193km/h when it made landfall.
Australian Associated Press