One of the deadliest, most destructive, and costliest cyclones of the second half of the 20th century.
Paulina began as a tropical wave on October 5, 1997, about 410 km (255 mi) south-southwest of Huatulco, Oaxaca. It first tracked eastward before shifting direction toward the north-northwest. On October 7, Paulina reached peak strength, climbing to a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained winds of 215 km/h (133 mph) and gusts up to 240 km/h (149 mph).
By the afternoon of October 8, Paulina made landfall near Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, causing severe damage along the coast. During the early hours of October 9, the storm stalled over the state of Guerrero, leaving Acapulco virtually destroyed. Paulina finally dissipated in the early hours of October 10 over the state of Jalisco.
Hard to believe, but this photo was taken in Acapulco, Guerrero.
Unthinkable devastation
“Entire families were swept away by raging floodwaters coming down the hillsides, where many informal settlements had taken root. Makeshift neighborhoods built with cardboard, wood, and palm—many located along riverbanks—were completely wiped off the map. We spent an entire week living in terror, with survival instincts in overdrive, doing whatever it took to protect our loved ones and ourselves.”
— Eyewitness account
Paulina dumped a record-breaking 411.2 mm of rain in less than 24 hours in Acapulco. The resulting floods caused widespread devastation, with between 230 and 400 reported deaths. Nearly 300,000 people were left homeless, and damages were estimated at 80 billion pesos.