Hurricane Erick slammed into Mexico’s Oaxaca state as a dangerous Category 3 storm Thursday morning, unleashing powerful winds at the coast and heavy rains that have caused deadly flooding in the region.

By Aida Pelaez-Fernandez MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Hurricane Erick made landfall on the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico, on Thursday morning, authorities said, potentially bringing intense rains and life-threatening floods and mudslides.

Forecasters had expected up to 40 centimeters (16 inches) of rain could fall across Oaxaca and Guerrero, with lesser totals in Chiapas, Michoacan, Colima and Jalisco states. The rainfall threatened flooding and mudslides, especially in areas with steep terrain.