The National Service of Civil Protection of Mexico announced a so-called red alert for parts of the southern Pacific coast of the country , after hurricane "John" quickly strengthened to a Category 2 storm, threatening to gain more strength before making landfall in the coming hours, Reuters reported, citing BTA.
The agency issued a warning for the coastal areas of the southern Mexican states of Guerrero and Oaxaca, urging residents to seek shelter until authorities lift the alert.
The US National Hurricane Center warned of impending flooding, high waves and hurricane-force winds while the storm was only about 50km from Punta Maldonado, Guerrero state last night, packing maximum sustained winds of 170km/h.
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The storm is likely to strengthen before making landfall, the Miami-based Hurricane Center said in a statement. "John" could become a major hurricane before reaching the coast of southern Mexico, the center said.
Authorities said schools were closing in parts of Oaxaca and Guerrero as the storm approached, and Mexico's state-owned energy company CFE said it was relocating workers to Oaxaca ahead of ``John''.
A hurricane warning is also in effect for the area from the popular beach resort of Acapulco, which is still recovering from last year's Hurricane Otis, to the tourist center of Huatulco in Oaxaca. The warning also covers the area east of Huatulco to the important port of Salina Cruz, where the largest refinery in the country is located - of the Mexican state oil company "Pemex" (Pemex).
The hurricane center warned that the heavy rains that ``John'' is bringing could cause ``significant and even catastrophic, life-threatening flash floods and mudslides'' that will affect the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca and southeastern Guerrero. expected to last until Thursday.