By The remnants of Hurricane John continued to wreak havoc across southwestern Mexico on Saturday, leaving at least 22 people dead and forcing residents to evacuate flooded homes after a week of devastating weather along the Pacific coastline.
Guerrero state, one of Mexico’s poorest regions, bore the brunt of the storm’s impact with 18 reported fatalities, many due to mudslides that crushed houses, according to local media. Three deaths were reported in neighboring Oaxaca state to the south, while a young boy died in a river in Michoacan state to the north.
John, which rapidly intensified into a major hurricane on Monday before making landfall in Guerrero, re-formed offshore and skirted the coastline northward for the rest of the week, bringing torrential rains and widespread flooding. The storm began dissipating on Friday and is no longer considered an active system.
Guerrero state governor Evelyn Salgado shared images on social media platform X of emergency responders in Acapulco, a major resort city, carrying out rescue operations by boat, jet ski, and helicopter. Residents were seen wading through floodwaters up to waist-high.
“We are working tirelessly to ensure the safety of our citizens and to begin the recovery process,” Salgado stated. She also announced that access to the Acapulco airport had been reestablished Saturday morning, a crucial step in facilitating aid and recovery efforts.
The situation in Acapulco is particularly dire, as the city is still recovering from the devastating impact of Hurricane Otis in October 2023. Otis, a Category 5 storm, left over 50 people dead and caused billions of dollars in damages. Remarkably, John’s rainfall nearly tripled the amount generated by Otis, exacerbating the city’s vulnerabilities.
Residents who evacuated flooded neighborhoods on makeshift rafts and surfboards pleaded with authorities for support, highlighting the urgent need for assistance in a city facing its second major disaster in less than a year.
Mexico’s national weather service forecasts that while John has dissipated, residual moisture could still bring heavy rains to parts of Guerrero and neighboring states in the coming days, potentially complicating rescue and recovery efforts.
The Mexican government has mobilized federal resources to assist in the affected areas, with President AndrĂ©s Manuel LĂłpez Obrador pledging full support for the recovery process. “We stand with the people of Guerrero and all those affected by this tragedy,” the President said in a statement. “No effort will be spared in providing aid and rebuilding.”
As the immediate crisis response continues, questions are being raised about long-term disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience in Mexico’s coastal regions, which are increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events.
REUTERS
