Tropical Storm John turns into a deadly storm after hitting Mexico, bringing heavy rains and landslides

CNN
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Two people were killed in a landslide after Hurricane John hit Mexico’s southern coast on Monday night, bringing heavy rains and life-threatening flood warnings.

Hurricane John hit the coast with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (193 kph) when it made landfall southwest of the city of Marcolea in Guerrero state at about 9:15 p.m. local time, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Since then, Hurricane John has weakened to a tropical storm and is moving northwest of the coastal city of Acapulco in Oaxaca state. Its slow movement and interaction with nearby mountains are likely to contribute to “catastrophic rainfall along the coast and inland,” according to the National Hurricane Center.

The two dead were in their home in the town of Tlacoachistlahuaca when a landslide struck after heavy rains, Guerrero state Governor Evelyn Salgado Pineda said Tuesday.

Just a day earlier, the storm had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (56 kph), but it experienced two rapid intensifications within a 24-hour period, more than tripling its speed.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm could re-emerge across the ocean and strengthen as its center approaches the southern coast of Mexico. Despite its erratic movement, John will continue to bring heavy rains and life-threatening flash flooding across southern Mexico over the next few days.

The governor of Oaxaca state said the state government evacuated 3,000 people and set up 80 shelters, while authorities suspended classes in several coastal areas on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported.

Businesses in Puerto Escondido, a tourist destination in the southern part of the state, closed after authorities ordered the suspension of all operations on the area’s main beaches, the news agency reported.

Anna Alday, who works at a restaurant there, told The Associated Press she was “a little upset” that the notice from authorities came so quickly.

“There was no opportunity to make the necessary purchases,” she said.

The Mexican government has changed the hurricane warning from east of Acapulco to Lagunas de Chacahua to a tropical storm warning. All hurricane warnings have been discontinued.

Heavy rains of 6 to 12 inches are expected, with isolated totals of about 15 inches across coastal areas of Chiapas. Areas along and near the coast of Oaxaca to southeast Guerrero can expect 10 to 20 inches of rain with isolated totals of about 30 inches through Thursday. The rains are likely to cause major flash flooding and mudslides along rugged terrain.