Erick weakened to a tropical storm after making landfall as a major hurricane on Mexico's southern Pacific coast on Thursday, leaving flooded streets, damaged boats and buildings in Oaxaca as authorities warned of dangerous rains.

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.

Heavy rainfall, life threatening floods, mudslides and “dangerous” storm surge are expected to accompany the storm. The weather agency has stated the storm “could produce rainfall totals of 8 to 16 inches, with maximum totals of 20 inches, across the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero."