Hurricane "Otis" is approaching the Pacific coast and is expected to hit the popular Mexican vacation destination of Acapulco on Wednesday morning with wind speeds reaching 150 m/s.
The city is home to approximately 800,000 residents.
CNN reports that locals are bracing for a disaster. Authorities are urging people to evacuate to designated shelters and avoid waterways.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has issued a warning via social media, stating, "Move to shelters or stay in a safe place. Keep away from rivers, streams, and ravines, and stay alert."
Situation deemed "Extremely Serious"
The hurricane has rapidly intensified and has been upgraded from a storm to a "potential catastrophe."
A hurricane warning has been issued along the entire southern coast of Mexico. The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) emphasized the severity of the situation in a statement, warning of "potentially catastrophic storm surges" that could result in life-threatening coastal flooding on Wednesday morning.
Mexico's army has been deployed, with 8,000 soldiers sent to the state of Guerrero, as part of extensive safety measures in areas at risk from Hurricane Otis, according to AP.
Phil Klotzbach, a hurricane researcher at Colorado State University, highlighted the unique intensity of the hurricane, stating, "It has quickly grown to become the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the eastern Pacific."
