Agence France-Presse reported that Hurricane Agata is moving in the expected path towards a chain of tourist resorts on beaches in southwestern Mexico, where authorities have opened shelters for thousands of people.

Agatha, the first of this season, was spotted in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, 80 kilometers from Puerto Aguel in southwestern Oaxaca at 15:00 (GMT) with winds of 175 kilometers per hour, according to the US National Hurricane Center .

Forecasters expected Agatha, a category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson five-point scale, to make landfall on Monday afternoon or evening local time and weaken as it moved over land.

Residents along the coast stocked up on water and food and took precautions to protect their homes and interests.

Water sports centers in the area are closed and airlines have canceled flights to Huatulco International Airport.

And the US National Hurricane Center warned that “the rains could cause landslides and rising river levels, as well as flooding.” The center added that “floods and landslides threaten the lives of the population” can occur in the state of Oaxaca and its neighboring Chiapas.

Authorities have opened about 200 shelters, accommodating almost 26,800 people, and hotels have prepared to accommodate tourists.

“Shelters have opened and people are starting to arrive,” local aid agencies said.