Mexico City: At least 22 people have been reported dead as the remnants of Hurricane John left a trail of destruction across southwestern Mexico. The storm battered the Pacific coastline for nearly a week, triggering deadly floods and landslides that forced residents to evacuate their homes on Saturday.
In Guerrero, Mexico’s hardest-hit and one of its poorest states, 18 fatalities were recorded, many caused by mudslides that destroyed homes, according to local media. To the south, three deaths were reported in Oaxaca, while a young boy tragically drowned in a river in Michoacán state to the north.
Hurricane John intensified rapidly into a major storm on Monday, striking Guerrero before dissipating. However, it soon reformed offshore, skimming the coastline for the remainder of the week, unleashing torrential rains and causing widespread flooding. By Friday, the storm began to weaken and is no longer considered active.
Guerrero state governor Evelyn Salgado posted images on X, formerly Twitter, showing emergency responders conducting rescue operations in Acapulco. Using boats, jet skis, and helicopters, responders helped residents wade through waist-high floodwaters that engulfed roads.
Salgado confirmed that access to Acapulco’s airport was restored by Saturday morning. Meanwhile, displaced residents, many with small children, evacuated on makeshift rafts and surfboards, pleading for government assistance. The city is still recovering from Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 storm that struck in 2023, leaving over 50 people dead and causing billions in damages. According to local reports, Hurricane John’s rainfall nearly tripled that of Otis.
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“A lot of water has come down,” said resident Jazmin Barrera to UnoTV. “We haven’t seen the sun since Monday. I think this time around has been more devastating.”
While heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are forecasted across Guerrero and parts of Oaxaca on Saturday, authorities in Acapulco noted that floodwaters are beginning to recede.
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“Shelters and kitchens have been set up, and food supplies are being distributed,” said President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on X. “Fortunately, the water is now receding, and aid to the victims will continue.”
Meteorologists have linked the storm’s intensity to warmer ocean temperatures, which provide additional fuel for hurricanes, allowing them to strengthen more rapidly and leaving coastal communities with less time to prepare.
