Hurricane John storms Mexico

People along Mexico’s Pacific Coast are on alert as Hurricane John continues its passage. It is a category four storm, the second-strongest hurricane grade, with wind speeds of more than 200 kilometres an hour. Resorts at risk include Manzanillo and Acapulco, which has seen sea surges of up to 3.5 metres. It is feared heavy rain and searing winds could cause flash floods and mudslides. Acapulco Residents took up positions in shelters. One man, José de la Torre, said he did not feel confident about the measures put in place. “Civil protection has a history of not being effective because areas selected as shelters to protect citizens are the first ones to flood”. In Florida, meanwhile, residents took stock after Tropical Storm Ernesto washed ashore. It came in as a rain storm instead of a hurricane bringing relief to Americans who remember the fury of Hurricane Katrina a year ago.

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