Two people lost their lives in Tlacoachistlahuaca after a mudslide, triggered by Hurricane John, swept away their home on Monday night.
Hurricane John made landfall in Punta Maldonado, Guerrero, near the Oaxaca border, late Monday as a Category 3 storm. The hurricane tore tin roofs off houses, uprooted trees, and caused mudslides before weakening to a tropical storm early Tuesday.
Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado confirmed the fatalities in Tlacoachistlahuaca and urged residents to remain cautious as heavy rains were expected to persist.
According to a 9 a.m. CST advisory from the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) on Tuesday, life-threatening flash flooding is expected across parts of southern and southwestern Mexico over the coming days as Tropical Storm John drifts slowly northwest. The NHC warned that “little movement is expected during the next few days.”
AccuWeather meteorologists also cautioned that the storm could continue to create dangerous conditions around Acapulco, particularly with heavy rainfall. While Acapulco, which was severely impacted by Category 5 Hurricane Otis last October, avoided the worst of John’s winds, the city could still see gusts of 40-60 mph and significant rainfall.
The NHC predicts that Tropical Storm John could bring 150-300 mm of rain, with isolated totals nearing 380 mm, to coastal areas of Chiapas. For the Oaxaca and Guerrero coasts, rainfall between 250-500 mm is expected, with isolated amounts reaching 750 mm through Thursday.
Governors from Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas have activated civil protection measures and urged residents to stay informed about official updates. According to El Financiero, Guerrero has established 300 shelters to assist approximately 59,000 coastal residents.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador also issued a warning on his X account Monday night, advising people to “seek higher ground, protect yourselves, and remember that life is most important; material things can be replaced. We are here.”