Erick made landfall in extreme western Oaxaca, just east of Punta Maldonado, with estimated maximum sustained winds near 125 mph, the National Hurricane Center said.

Hurricane Erick had strengthened to a Category 4 storm as it approached the coast but weakened to a Category 3 storm before making landfall on Thursday.

By LUIS ALBERTO CRUZ and FABIOLA SÁNCHEZ PUERTO ESCONDIDO, Mexico (AP) — Powerful Hurricane Erick made landfall in Mexico’s southern state of Oaxaca early Thursday, the National