Hurricane Agatha gains strength off the coast of Oaxaca with waves of up to 13 feet

Agatha, the first hurricane of the season (which officially begins on June 1) will make landfall this Monday on the tourist beaches and fishing villages of Oaxaca, on the Mexican coast of the Pacific Ocean, under alert for waves of up to 13 feet and heavy rain.

After reaching hurricane status on Sunday, Agatha rapidly gained strength and

at level 2 on the Saffir-Simpson scale (which goes up to 5), according to the National Hurricane Center. and the National Meteorological Service of Mexico.

The eye of the storm is headed for an area near the towns of Puerto Escondido and Puerto Ángel, in southern Oaxaca, a region that includes the tourist communities of Huatulco, Mazunte and Zipolite.

Hurricane Agatha off the Pacific coast of the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, on Monday, May 30, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. NOAA via AP

The National Hurricane Center reported this Monday that Agatha has sustained winds of up to 110 miles per hour (175 kilometers per hour), bordering on category 3. Its vortex was located about 65 miles (110 kilometers) southwest of Puerto Ángel and it was moving in a northeasterly direction at 6 miles per hour (9 km/h).

[Do's and don'ts during and after a hurricane]

There is a hurricane alert between the port of Salina Cruz and the Chacahua lagoons.

The State Civil Protection Coordination of Oaxaca published images of fishermen mooring their boats on the beach to protect them from the storm, which was already hitting the coast.

Hurricane Agatha continues to strengthen within hours of making landfall in southern Mexico

May 30, 202201:38

The municipal authorities of Huatulco ordered the absolute closure of all the beaches of the tourist center, including its famous seven bays, many of which are only accessible by sea.

They also closed schools and began setting up shelters.

To the west, in Zipolite, a town known for its nudist beach and bohemian atmosphere, the staff at the small Casa Kalmar hotel collected all the beach furniture and installed wooden shutters to prevent strong winds from blowing out doors and windows.

"The biggest concern here is the air, the wind," said hotel manager Silvia Ranfagni.

With just one guest and many cancellations due to the hurricane, Ranfagni planned to await arrival at the property, four blocks from the beach.

"I'm going to stay locked up here with my animals," she declared.

Agatha forms near the coast of Mexico, the first tropical storm of the year in the Pacific

May 29, 202200:24

The Mexican Turtle Center — a former slaughterhouse converted into a conservation center in Mazunte — announced that it will be closed to visitors until further notice due to the arrival of the hurricane.

The Hurricane Center warned of dangerous coastal flooding and destructive storm surge near the area where Agatha will make landfall.

10 to 16 inches (250 to 400 millimeters) of rain is forecast in areas of Oaxaca, with highs of 20 inches (500 millimeters).