mexico hurricane mexico hurricane deadliest eastern pacific tropical cyclone record observed south mexico october cyclone tracked northwest intensified category hurricane october reached category intensity following day turning northeast hurricane maintained category status landfall near mexico system continued trajectory prior dissipating day impact hurricane severe widespread initially forecast remain offshore system curved northeast moved ashore mexico worst natural disasters time boats submerged countless homes damaged destroyed large portions states inaccessible flash flooding hundreds residents stranded plantations blown storm leaving thousands work fear economy years recover torrential rainfall mountain terrain contributed numerous mudslides caused hundreds fatalities aftermath cyclone convoys delivering aid hindered destruction residents prevent spread disease overall hurricane inflicted million usd damage meteorological history october low pressure area present south having originated area disturbed weather region day day ships reported gale force winds suggesting tropical storm formed utc moving west northwestward parallel southwest coast mexico system steadily intensified reaching hurricane status late october storm continued intensify ships path record intensity october time observations suggests storm attained major hurricane intensity category modern scale winds mph october october hurricane turned abruptly northeast mexican coast utc october nearby ship recorded winds mph confirming increase intensity hours later ship recorded winds mph utc october hurricane landfall northwest eye diameter ship estimated winds mph basis previous estimated landfall intensity mph later determined ship reported minimum barometric pressure mbar inhg southeastern periphery eyewall conjunction nearby readings suggested minimum central pressure mbar inhg indicated hurricane peak intensity landfall mph based wind estimates central pressure storm small size slow movement hurricane rapidly weakened mountainous terrain southwestern mexico hours landfall system weakened tropical storm status october storm dissipated preparations impact thousands people unprepared storm system dubbed sneak hurricane passing offshore acapulco forecast head sea instead east landfall hurricane devastating effects places hit killed people directly total people time mexico worst natural disaster recent times destruction preliminary estimate property damage million usd storm sank merchant ships vessels ship hands went hands lost total boats sunk quarter homes totally destroyed leaving homeless percent homes destroyed ships harbor sunk large portions isolated flooding hundreds people stranded suffered especially people population dead missing according message sent president plantations blown thousands people left work state economy damaged officials thought years recover hurricane dumped heavy rains path water logged hills near contributed huge late october claimed victims slide uncovered hundreds snakes killed tens people aftermath additional driven nests walls away governor wife issued plea venom places mud feet deep water supplies badly debris dead bodies aftermath records aftermath air rescue operations conducted destruction roads area hindered convoys carrying aid planes supply drops rescue operations hindered broken roads rails survivors placed cyclone deadliest east pacific hurricane death totals higher known including
1959 Mexico hurricane