Remnants of Hurricane John Bring Rainfall to Southwestern Mexico, Resulting in Three Deaths

By Jose Cortes

MARQUELIA, Mexico – The remnants of Hurricane John drenched a significant portion of southwestern Mexico on Tuesday as the storm gradually moved inland, prompting cleanup efforts. Despite its weakening, the storm continued to pose a risk of severe flooding and has already resulted in at least three fatalities.

The storm affected several states, uprooting trees and power lines and damaging roofs during its landfall late Monday night and into early Tuesday, officials reported during a briefing.

The impacted coastal region includes important cargo ports as well as some of the country’s premier beach resorts.

Videos shared on social media depicted heavy rain pouring onto deserted streets near the large Lazaro Cardenas port in Michoacan state, accompanied by strong winds that swayed trees.

In Oaxaca state, popular tourist airports in Puerto Escondido and Huatulco were temporarily closed earlier in the day.

Two deaths were confirmed after a mudslide buried a house in the small town of Tlacoachistlahuaca, located in Guerrero state, which lies inland between Puerto Escondido and Acapulco, a major beach destination devastated by Hurricane Otis last year. A third victim was reported in the mountainous region of Guerrero, specifically in the municipality of Malinaltepec, according to the state’s civil protection agency.

As Heidi Carrillo traversed a flooded street in Marquelia, near Guerrero’s Pacific coast, she expressed concern for her neighbors. "What’s needed right now around the beaches is food, because lots of people there were left without their homes, and I think they also need clothes," she stated.

Earlier on Tuesday, national emergency services head Laura Velazquez warned that John could bring more "intense rainfall" to Guerrero, one of Mexico’s least affluent states. She reported that rainfall accumulated overnight and into the morning had reached nearly 11 inches (28 cm).

John was downgraded from hurricane and tropical storm status throughout Tuesday. Its remnants were reported to be approximately 70 miles (113 km) northwest of Acapulco, moving inland at a sluggish pace of about 3 miles per hour (5 kph), according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

The storm’s maximum sustained winds have diminished significantly, now recorded at 35 mph (56 kph), as per the latest advisory from the Miami-based forecaster.

The center also warned of potential flash flooding across parts of southwestern Mexico in the coming days.