Forecasters expected up to 16 inches of rain could fall across Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lesser totals in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states. The rainfall threatened flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain.

Hurricane Erick lashed communities along the southwestern coast of Mexico on Thursday with destructive wind and torrential rain as it made landfall, raising fears of life-threatening flooding and mudslides as terrified residents hunkered down in homes and shelters for safety.

Erick rapidly strengthened from a 65 mph tropical storm to a potentially catastrophic 145 mph Category 4 hurricane as it neared Mexico’s southwest coastline between Acapulco and Puerto Escondido.