As residents of Florida, the Carolinas and other southeastern U.S. states recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene, Mexico’s Pacific coast is facing similar challenges in the aftermath of Hurricane John, which left 22 people dead.
Most fatalities occurred in the state of Guerrero, where Acapulco and nearby communities were hit by severe flooding and landslides. The destruction from the Category 3 hurricane is a significant setback for Acapulco, which was still recovering from a major 2023 storm that nearly crippled the popular tourist destination.
Social media posts showed emergency responders in Acapulco conducting rescue operations by boat, jet ski, and helicopter, while residents waded through waist-deep water in the streets.
At his final press conference on Monday, September 30, outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador reported that 15,000 homes in Guerrero were affected by Hurricane John. He announced a coordinated response involving the Mexican Army, Navy, National Guard and local Civil Protection agencies.
On October 2, the day after her inauguration, President Claudia Sheinbaum visited Guerrero and Acapulco to meet with local officials about federal aid. “The most urgent priorities are the supply of drinking water and restoring roads,” Sheinbaum posted on X following her visit.