At Least 22 Reported Dead as Storm John Weakens Over Mexico – Reuters

By Sarah Morland

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – On Saturday, residents in southwestern Mexico evacuated their homes as the remnants of Hurricane John caused devastating flooding in the region. The storm, which battered the Pacific coastline for a week, resulted in 22 confirmed deaths due to floods and landslides.

Guerrero, the worst-affected state and one of the poorest in Mexico, reported 18 fatalities, primarily due to mudslides that collapsed homes. In Oaxaca, local reports indicated three deaths, while a young boy lost his life in a river in Michoacan to the north.

John quickly intensified into a major hurricane on Monday before making landfall in Guerrero. After dissipating, it reformed offshore and continued to unleash heavy rains along the coast. The storm dissipated completely on Friday and is no longer deemed an active threat.

Guerrero state governor Evelyn Salgado shared images of emergency responders in Acapulco, a major resort city engaged in rescue operations via boat, jet ski, and helicopter, while residents waded through waist-deep floodwaters.

On Saturday morning, Salgado announced that access to the airport had been restored. Many residents with small children evacuated flooded neighborhoods using dinghies and surfboards and called on authorities for assistance as the city faced a second disaster within a year, still recovering from a catastrophic storm in 2023.

Last October, Hurricane Otis hit Acapulco as a Category 5 storm, causing over 50 deaths and extensive damage. The rainfall from Hurricane John was significantly higher, nearly tripling that of Otis.

"A lot of water has come down," said resident Jazmin Barrera. "We haven’t seen the sun since Monday. I think this time around has been more devastating."

Heavy rain and thunderstorms were forecast to continue across Guerrero and parts of Oaxaca later on Saturday, but Acapulco officials reported that floodwaters were beginning to recede.

"Emergency shelters and kitchens have been set up, and food supplies are being distributed," President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador stated. "Fortunately, the water is now subsiding, and aid for the victims will persist."

Meteorologists attribute the increasing intensity of hurricanes to warmer ocean temperatures, which provide them with more energy, allowing them to strengthen rapidly and leaving coastal communities with less time to prepare for their impact.