ACAPULCO, Sept 27 (Askume) – Hurricane John began to dissipate off Mexico’s Pacific coast on Friday and was downgraded to a tropical depression, but its remnants dumped nearly 100 centimetres (39 inches) of rain on the southern state of Guerrero.
The state, home to the main seaside resort of Acapulco, received nearly three times as much rain in four days as last year’s devastating Hurricane Otis, Mexican officials said.
Images on social media showed rising waters flooding much of Guerrero and neighbouring Michoacan state, damaging homes, businesses, roads and vehicles.
The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that “catastrophic flooding and landslides will continue to hit parts of southern and southwestern Mexico.”
Alejandra Mendez, director of Mexico’s national weather agency, said John had dumped more than 95 centimetres (37 inches) of rain on Guerrero since Monday, while Category 5 Hurricane Otis brought 35 centimetres (14 inches).
Otis, which killed more than 50 people and caused about $15 billion in damage last year, continued to strengthen as it approached Acapulco, while John moved much more slowly and became a tropical storm and a hurricane, with the coastline continuing to move and a large portion of it .
Acapulco resident Vinny Reyes told Askume that relatives and neighbors were pumping water out of their homes and garages.
“We thought there would be a little rain, but now we are seeing heavy rain for four or five days,” he said.
Officials in neighboring Michoacan state said John caused river levels to rise, causing flooding and damage in several areas.
Lazaro was hovering Friday afternoon about 90 miles (145 kilometers) north of San Juan Guerrero and just 5 miles (8 kilometers) west of the main cargo port of Cardenas, according to forecasters in Miami.
The slow-moving storm struck Guerrero at hurricane intensity twice in the week before reemerging near the coast as what meteorologists called a “zombie” storm .
