Residents in southwestern Mexico are fleeing their homes as the remnants of Hurricane John, which ravaged the Pacific coastline for a week, dissipated on Saturday. The deadly storm brought torrential rains and landslides, reportedly leaving more than 20 people dead.
In Guerrero, one of Mexico's poorest and worst-hit states, the city of Acapulco witnessed severe devastation. Locals were seen digging through mud and rubble that had engulfed their properties. According to local media, at least 18 people have been killed, many due to mudslides that crushed houses.
\"It was still raining, and the soil was sliding. People came out crying. I don't know if anyone was buried. They say that people were coming from work when the landslide happened. People were crying; they were terrified by the landslide. The Civil Protection came, but if it rains, another landslide may happen,\" said Olga Flores, an Acapulco resident.
The city was previously hit by the Category 5 storm Otis last October, which left over 50 people dead and caused billions of dollars in damages. However, John's rainfall was nearly triple the amount from Otis, exacerbating the disaster's impact.
Further south, local media reported at least three deaths in Oaxaca, while a young boy died in a river to the north in Michoacan State.
Hurricane John rapidly strengthened into a major hurricane on Monday before tearing into Guerrero. It dissipated briefly, then reformed offshore and continued skimming the coastline northward for the rest of the week, bringing relentless rain and floods.
By Friday, John began dissipating and is no longer considered an active storm. While heavy rainfall and thunderstorms were forecast across Guerrero and parts of Oaxaca on Saturday, authorities in Acapulco reported that floodwaters were starting to recede.
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Mexicans flee flooded homes as deadly Hurricane John dissipates
cgtn.com
