Mexico City: Hurricane John regained strength on Thursday as it approached Mexico’s southwestern coast, an area already drenched by the slow-moving storm system over recent days. The storm, which has fluctuated in intensity, now threatens ports and popular tourist destinations along the Pacific coast.
Since Monday, John has churned near the coastline, causing significant disruptions. The hurricane impacted major cargo ports, led to temporary airport closures, and resulted in at least five fatalities, mostly from mudslides.
“We’re asking you to please take all precautions,” urged Guerrero state Governor Evelyn Salgado in a post on X Thursday morning.
In Acapulco, one of Guerrero’s top tourist spots, beachfront restaurants were battered by rising tides on Wednesday, while heavy rainfall flooded nearby roads. The city is still recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Otis last year.
The storm has also caused widespread power outages, leaving tens of thousands without electricity, and littered roads with uprooted trees and downed power lines.
According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, Hurricane John, a Category 1 storm, is currently located about 55 miles (89 km) southwest of the key cargo port of Lázaro Cárdenas, with maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour (121 kph). The Miami-based center expects John to move northwest along the coast, affecting Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Michoacán through at least Saturday.
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“This heavy rainfall will likely cause significant and catastrophic life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides,” warned the center.
John is moving at a slow pace of 4 miles per hour (6 kph), further prolonging the risk for the already saturated region.
