Hurricane John hits Mexico, causing massive destruction (Video)

Written By ندى ماهر عبدربه on 2024/09/29

This article was written originally in Arabic and is translated using a 3rd party automated service. ArabiaWeather is not responsible for any grammatical errors whatsoever.

Arab Weather - Hurricane John's strength has weakened after hitting the Pacific coast, causing deadly floods and landslides in several states, and killing at least 22 people, while authorities evacuated residents from Michoacan to Oaxaca to avoid the risks resulting from the effects of the hurricane.

Evacuation and flood response

Residents of southwestern Mexico were forced to evacuate their homes Saturday as flooding and deadly landslides left by the remnants of Hurricane John. The natural disaster has killed 22 people, most of them in the hardest-hit state of Guerrero. Eighteen people were reported dead in Guerrero, along with three in Oaxaca and a toddler in Michoacán.

Storm John eases after week of devastation

Tropical Storm John, which became a major hurricane on Monday, began to dissipate on Friday, causing widespread destruction, particularly in the state of Guerrero, before dissipating and reconstituting itself off the coast, continuing to bring heavy rains and flooding for the rest of the week.

Rescue efforts in Acapulco

Evelyn Salgado, the governor of Guerrero state, shared images on Twitter showing emergency workers carrying out rescues in the tourist city of Acapulco using boats and helicopters. She said access to the city’s airport had been restored on Saturday. Residents, especially families with young children who were evacuated, have been calling for more support from authorities as Acapulco continues to recover from a devastating storm in 2023.

Second disaster in less than a year in Mexico

In October 2023, Acapulco was hit by Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 storm that killed more than 50 people and caused billions of dollars in damage. However, Hurricane John brought nearly three times the amount of rain that Otis did. Resident Jazmin Barrera noted that this storm was more destructive, saying:

We haven't seen the sun since Monday.

Rain continues and floods recede

Heavy rains and thunderstorms are expected to continue in Guerrero state and parts of Oaxaca. But authorities in Acapulco said flood levels were beginning to recede. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said shelters and kitchens had been provided to those affected and that waters were beginning to recede.

The impact of climate change on hurricanes

Meteorologists say warmer ocean temperatures provide extra energy to hurricanes, making them intensify more quickly and leaving coastal communities less time to prepare for their impact.