Hurricane John has made landfall on Mexico’s southern Pacific coast. The Category 3 hurricane resulted in two confirmed fatalities with tin roofs ripped off, mudslides triggered and trees toppled in affected regions.
Also Read: Japan: Floods and Landslides in Ishikawa Region
Hurricane John made landfall on September 23, 2024 around 9:15 p.m. The storm hit south-southwest of the city of Marquelia in Guerrero state bringing maximum sustained winds of 120 mph.
Hurricane John made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane. It heavily impacted the coastal areas of Guerrero and Oaxaca especially the city of Acapulco and smaller towns like Punta Maldonado.
Two people lost their lives in the town of Tlacoachistlahuaca, Guerrero. A landslide caused by heavy rains hit their home. Due to the mountainous terrain of the region, landslides were a huge risk. Heavy rainfall loosened the soil resulting in dangerous mudslides.
Hurricane John underwent two phases of rapid intensification, a process where hurricanes increase their wind speeds by more than 35 mph within 24 hours.
Just a day before landfall, the storm had winds of only 35 mph. However, it quickly ramped up to 120 mph before making landfall.
Coastal areas of Chiapas were expected to receive between 6 and 12 inches of rain with isolated areas possibly receiving up to 15 inches.
The National Hurricane Center predicted that areas along the coast from Oaxaca to southeast Guerrero could receive between 10 and 20 inches of rain with isolated totals reaching 30 inches.
The state government of Oaxaca evacuated 3,000 people and established 80 shelters to accommodate those displaced by the storm.
Around 1,000 military and state personnel were mobilized to assist with emergency efforts and rescue operations. Schools in coastal areas of Oaxaca and Guerrero were closed as a precautionary measure and businesses along the coastline were ordered to halt operations.
Two people died when a mudslide triggered by the storm crashed into their home in the remote mountain region of Tlacoachistlahuaca, Guerrero.
Several structures including homes and public buildings, sustained severe damage as roofs were torn off and roads blocked by debris.
Trees were uprooted and various coastal towns were left in precarious conditions as the storm’s winds and heavy rains caused chaos.
Also Read: Seasteading News: Recent Updates and Major Floating City Projects in 2024
Hurricane John made landfall near Punta Maldonado late on Monday as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. The storm weakened to tropical storm status by Tuesday morning with wind speeds dropping to 50 mph.
Evelyn Salgado, the governor of Guerrero reported the two fatalities and warned about the continued risks of flash flooding and landslides in the region.
Local governments and authorities mobilized emergency personnel to affected areas including military and state personnel.
The state of Oaxaca evacuated around 3,000 residents, established 80 shelters and dispatched over 1,000 emergency responders to manage the crisis.
The US National Hurricane Center issued a strong warning about the slow pace of the storm, which threatened flash flooding and mudslides in the Mexican states of Chiapas, Oaxaca and Guerrero.
Heavy rainfall estimated to reach between 6 to 12 inches and up to 30 inches in isolated areas and it is expected to exacerbate the risks of mudslides and flash floods throughout the week.
Laura Velázquez, Mexico’s federal civil protection coordinator urged residents of coastal cities to evacuate to shelters to safeguard their lives.
The Mexican government dispatched over 18,000 personnel including armed forces and government workers to assist with emergency relief efforts in affected areas.
By Tuesday afternoon, more than 98,000 people had lost power, though electricians had restored service to about 35% of those affected.
Also Read: Africa Floods: Over 4 Million People Affected
