The hurricane had been a Category 4 storm as it bore down from the eastern Pacific toward Mexico. The authorities ordered evacuations in Oaxaca and Guerrero.

The storm threatened to unleash destructive winds near where the eye crashes ashore, flash floods and a dangerous storm surge, forecasters said.

Hurricane Erick made landfall in Oaxaca as a Category 3 storm on Thursday, the first time a major hurricane has hit Mexico in June.