Hurricane Grace struck Mexico’s Gulf coast as a Category 3 hurricane. It then weakened on Saturday and began to drench coastal and inland areas. This was its second landfall in the country within two days. Authorities said that at least eight people were killed.

Although the storm lost power as it crossed over the Yucatan Peninsula, on Thursday it swung through Mexico’s main tourist area. However, it quickly drew power from the relatively warm Gulf of Mexico, before reaching the Mexican coast late Friday.

Cuitlahuac Garcia (Governor of Veracruz State in Mexico) said that at least eight people died, including children. Three were also missing due to flooding and mudslides. Garcia stated that 330,000 people lost power during the storm, but that it was slowly being restored.

According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, Grace was downgraded from a tropical storm Saturday and had sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kmph). It was located 35 miles (55 km) northwest of Mexico City. It was southeast of Tuxpan. It was moving west-southwest at 13mph (20 kph).

Grace lost its strength as it swung inland over a mountain range carrying heavy rains towards the heart of the country.

Grace, a strong wind, high waves, and rain that struck the Veracruz communities in Tuxpan, Poza Rica and Xalapa just hours before it reached shore on Friday caused severe weather conditions in these areas, Mexico’s meteorological agency stated.

To prevent any damage from the storm’s leading edge, fishermen pulled their boats out the water and took them into harbors. To protect their businesses, merchants threw up windows.

The storm struck Tulum, a Yucatan resort known for its Mayan ruins. Many families spent hours sheltering from flying debris and cracking trees.