Hurricane John “swept” the South Mexicoleaving at least two dead, according to authorities.
“Two people have been reported dead due to a landslide” that hit their home in the community of Tlacoachistlawaka, announced Evelyn Salgado, governor of the state of Guerrero, at a press conference.
John began making landfall in southwestern Mexico as a Category 3 hurricane on the five-point Saffir-Simpson scale, but has since weakened to a tropical storm.
“It was an intense phenomenon”
According to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), the tropical storm hit (around 3:00 pm Greek time) the seaside resort of Acapulco with winds reaching speeds of 85 km/h.
“It was an intense phenomenon, with a lot of rain,” commented Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in a press conference.
Coastal cities in Guerrero state were hit hardest by the heavy rains, with roads blocked, power cuts and schools closed. Problems were also reported in the neighboring state of Oaxaca.
The Mexican state of Guerrero was hit on October 25, 2023 by Hurricane Otis (category 5, the highest on the Saffir-Simpson scale), which caused massive destruction in Acapulco and left more than 40 dead.
Sources: AMPE, AFP, Reuters