FOG BLOG WORLD NEWS LOG: HURRICANE AGATHA HITS MEXICO'S WESTERN FLANK , CAUSES EXTENSIVE DAMAGE:

Death toll rises in wake of Hurricane Agatha’s historic landfall in Mexico After becoming the strongest storm to make landfall in Mexico this early in the season, Agatha quickly dissipated over the rugged terrain but not before unleashing destructive impacts. The 2022 East Pacific hurricane season is off to a record-setting start following the unprecedented landfall of Hurricane Agatha along the southern Mexico coast Monday afternoon. Agatha dumped heavy rain and triggered mudslides as it moved inland, leaving a death toll in its wake.

As of Wednesday morning, at least 11 people have been killed as result of Agatha's passing, with 33 more missing, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Agatha became the strongest storm to make landfall in Mexico this early in the season, crashing ashore just west of the town of Puerto Angel with maximum sustained winds of around 105 mph (169 km/h). On Monday, the storm was on the precipice of reaching major hurricane status, its sustained wind speeds falling just 1 mph shy of that intensity (111 mph or higher).

Agatha's landfall marked just the third such occurrence during the month of May in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Only two prior hurricanes in recorded history made landfall in Mexico in May -- Barbara on May 29, 2013, and another storm named Agatha on May 24, 1971 -- both of which were Category 1 hurricane strength. Agatha also became the earliest-forming hurricane in the basin since Andres on May 29,