Hurricane Erick killed at least two people as it swept through southern Mexico, causing significant damage to coastal communities before weakening to a low pressure system on Thursday night, authorities said.

The storm was downgraded slightly before making landfall, from a powerful Category 4 to a Category 3. While slightly reduced in power, Erick is still considered a major hurricane as a Category 3, which can carry winds of up to 129 mph (210 kph).

Hurricane Erick made landfall in Mexico's southern state of Oaxaca early Thursday as a major hurricane before moving inland and weakening to a tropical storm as it dumped heavy rain, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.