'Resurgent' Tropical Cyclone John, characterized as a 'zombie', reinforces power in the Pacific, inundating sections of Mexico's southwestern shoreline.
The "zombie" hurricane, named John, was labeled as a system that weakens before strengthening back into a storm. Upon making landfall in Mexico as a lethal Category 3 hurricane on Monday night, it weakened, only to regain strength and batter Mexico's Pacific coast. Even post its initial weakening, the storm's remnants continued to traverse the coast, leading to persistent rainfall.
In the tourist city of Acapulco, which is yet to fully recuperate from the devastation caused by Hurricane Otis last year, certain neighborhoods were inundated, prompting residents in vulnerable areas to vacate to temporary shelters. Portions of the city have witnessed over 500mm of rain this week, and a staggering 431mm in the past 24 hours.
A viral video on social media depicted a taxi being swept away by the ferocious floodwaters, with individuals still inside. The vehicle eventually came to a halt, allowing authorities nearby to rescue the passengers.
Emergency response teams have subsequently been dispatched to the city with rafts and boats to save those trapped by the surging waters. As per Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado Pineda, these efforts are underway.
Operations at the Acapulco airport have been halted, and educational institutions across the state have been instructed to remain closed until further notice.
Reports from rural towns in close proximity to Acapulco suggest temporary power failures due to the rain. Some markets have consequently shut down, hampering people's ability to procure essential supplies for managing the storm.
As one resident told CNN, "I hope it does not persist for an extended period as there won't be sufficient food."
The revitalized hurricane is predicted to bring "extremely heavy to extraordinary" quantities of rain, powerful winds, and high waves in the southwestern part of the country, as per the Mexican National Water Commission's statement on Thursday.
Along Guerrero's Benito Juárez municipality, a river has started overflowing from its bank, with water levels nearing the height of a bridge above. There are apprehensions that the town of San Jerónimo may encounter flooding. Authorities have urged people to maintain a safe distance from the riverbank and bridge.
At noon ET on Thursday, Hurricane John was located approximately 120 km west of Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, exhibiting maximum sustained winds of 120 km per hour.
The storm is projected to deposit 10 to 20 inches of rain across the states of Guerrero and Michoacán through Friday, and up to six inches across Colima and western Oaxaca.
Due to the relentless rain brought by Hurricane John, some parts of the world, specifically the Americas, are experiencing severe flooding. The revitalized hurricane is predicted to bring heavy rainfall, powerful winds, and high waves to the southwestern part of Mexico.
