ACAPULCO, MEXICO - A Category 5 hurricane made landfall on the coastal city of Acapulco, Mexico, leaving widespread flooding and damage. Hurricane Otis intensified from tropical storm strength to a major hurricane within 12 hours, making landfall early Wednesday. It was recorded to have maximum sustained winds of around 165 miles an hour.

The hurricane caused significant material damage, including mudslides on the main highway to Acapulco from Mexico City, reported The Wall Street Journal, and has downed trees on a main highway. Otis weakened rapidly over the rugged coastal mountains of Guerrero state, and its remnants were moving over central Mexico with winds around 35 mph at 5 p.m. ET, the National Hurricane Center said.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador briefed during his morning news conference that communications have been completely lost, and the main worry is the coastal road and the people living from Acapulco to Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, about 125 miles northwest of Acapulco.

ABC News has reported flash flooding is also possible with up to 20 inches of rain expected through Thursday in areas including Guerrero and the western coastal sections of Oaxaca, along with mudslides in areas of higher terrain. López Obrador noted Hurricane Otis had atypical behavior. Before Otis, the strongest hurricane on record to hit Mexico’s Pacific Coast was Category 4 Hurricane Patricia in 2015.

AP News later reported authorities have partially reopened the main highway connecting Acapulco to the state capital Chilpancingo and Mexico City. The vital ground link allowed dozens of emergency vehicles, personnel, and trucks carrying supplies to reach the battered port.

AndNowUKnow will keep a close eye on the news for more updates.