Hurricane John, a rapidly intensifying storm that caught forecasters off guard, slammed into Mexico's southern Pacific coast late on September 23, claiming at least two lives and causing widespread destruction.

The storm made landfall near Marquelia as a Category 3 hurricane with winds reaching 120 mph (193 km/h), following an unprecedented 21-hour transformation from a modest 40 mph tropical storm to a major hurricane.

Evelyn Salgado, Governor of Guerrero state, confirmed on September 24 that two residents of Tlacoachistlahuaca lost their lives when a landslide, triggered by John's fierce winds and torrential rains, struck their home.

The impact of the storm has been felt across the region, with widespread flooding and power outages reported. Schools across Guerrero state have been forced to close, while in neighbouring Oaxaca, the highway between Barranca Larga and Ventanilla has been shut due to flooding and mudslides.

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Benz attributed the storm's rapid intensification to warmer ocean temperatures, noting, "These are storms that we haven't really experienced before. Rapid intensification has occurred more frequently in modern times as opposed to back in the historical record," he told The Associated Press.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador took to social media platform X to urge residents to prioritise safety: "Seek higher ground, protect yourselves and do not forget that life is the most important thing; material things can be replaced."

As of the morning of September 24, John had weakened to a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (64 km/h), moving northwest at 8 mph (13 km/h). However, the United States National Hurricane Center warned that the storm's slow pace and heavy rains could still cause "significant and possible catastrophic, life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides" in parts of Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Guerrero states.

Rainfall predictions remain alarming, with coastal areas of Chiapas expected to receive 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) of rain, and isolated totals up to 15 inches (38 cm). The Oaxaca coast to southeast Guerrero may experience even heavier rainfall, with 10-20 inches (25-51 cm) expected and isolated totals potentially reaching near 30 inches (76 cm).

As Mexico grapples with the aftermath of Hurricane John, memories of the devastating Hurricane Otis in 2023, which experts blamed on human-caused climate change, loom large. The government's response to that disaster faced criticism, prompting authorities to pledge swifter action in future crises.

President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, set to take office on October 1, has announced plans to improve the country's early alert system for such weather events, similar to the system currently in place for earthquakes.

As John continues its slow journey inland, authorities remain on high alert, with the storm's lingering presence posing an ongoing threat to the region.