International
Death toll in Mexico from Cyclone John rises to 29
Deaths caused by Cyclone John in the state of Guerrero, southern Mexico, amounted this Sunday to 23, after the authorities confirmed four new deaths, which gives a total figure of 29 throughout the country since the impact of the cyclone last Monday.
Local authorities confirmed four more deaths in the entity, marked by the ravages of the hurricane, such as damage and collapsed buildings. The 23 deaths in Guerrero are added to the five deaths reported in neighboring Oaxaca, and one more in Michoacán, giving a total of at least 29 deaths throughout the country.
In Chilpancingo, capital of the state, municipal authorities confirmed on Saturday afternoon, the location of a deceased person, in the Alpuyeca ravine, of the Emiliano Zapata neighborhood, whose body was rescued by Civil Protection personnel.
The other death corresponds to the commissioner of El Ciruelar, Crispín Barrientos, swept away by the current of the river, when he tried to cross it to ask for help because the town was affected by the rains and flood of the river.
Town isolated by John in Mexico
The inhabitants pointed out that the town is completely isolated because the bridges to enter have collapsed and that they did not have food to survive.
While a worker of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), identified as David, died electrocuted in the town of Nuevo Tecomulapa, in the municipality of San Marcos, while carrying out electrical power reconnection work.
Finally, an 18-year-old was found buried by mud and stones inside his house in the Altos de Miramar neighborhood, in the upper part of Puerto Marqués, in Acapulco, where at least 13 restaurants collapsed.
The body was rescued by members of the Michoacán fire department, who reported that they went to the port to help with the search and rescue work, after four hours of maneuvering and removing debris.
Collapsed restaurants
María Antonieta Ramos, a resident of the town in the Diamante area of Puerto Marqués, recalled that the restaurants of the third block already had some damage, but they did not resist due to two large sinkholes that formed, together with the strong waves that were recorded.
“It’s very sad. Right now many people are without food, without food, because they took everything, and let’s see, we are waiting to see if they bring us help or something because we are left without clothes, the only one is the one I have on,” Ramos shared.
In addition to the homes damaged by John, some tourists were stranded in the entity, so the Secretary of Tourism of Guerrero, Simón Quiñones, assured that some humanitarian exits have been enabled to leave the port.
In the case of the hotel infrastructure, Quiñones said that there is no record of damage, compared to the devastating hurricane Otis, which affected almost 20,000 rooms in October 2023.
Sheinbaum will visit Guerrero on his first day of government
President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, who will take over on October 1, reported this morning that on her first day of government on Wednesday 2 in the afternoon she will visit the state to assess the damage caused by the phenomenon.
While the outgoing president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, regretted on Saturday on his networks the death of eight people due to the collapses caused by John in Acapulco.
International
Mexico City prepares for 13 million pilgrims at Basilica of Guadalupe
The Mexico City government is expecting at least 13 million pilgrims to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the December 12 celebrations honoring Mexico’s patron saint. To ensure the safety and care of visitors, authorities have launched the “Basilica Operation,” mobilizing more than 105,000 public servants.
Mayor Clara Brugada stated that the operation began on December 5 and will continue until December 14, covering the peak of visits to the basilica, located in the Gustavo A. Madero borough in the north of the city.
Key measures include reinforcement of the Metro public transport system, particularly at stations near the sanctuary, the installation of three helipads for medical emergencies, and the involvement of Civil Protection brigades, health ministry personnel, and public safety officers.
Secretary of Public Security Pablo Vázquez explained that the deployment also includes 255 patrol units and numerous specialized teams to manage crowds, traffic, and emergency situations, aiming to guarantee a secure experience for all pilgrims.
Central America
Mexico and Guatemala launch joint security operation after Agua Zarca border attack
The Government of Mexico announced on Tuesday that it has strengthened coordination with Guatemala following an armed confrontation in the community of Agua Zarca, in Guatemala’s Huehuetenango department, where a soldier was wounded in an attack attributed to organized-crime groups operating on both sides of the border.
The Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, confirmed that Mexico is exchanging information with Guatemalan authorities and that Mexican Army units have been deployed along the border to reinforce surveillance and assist in reconnaissance operations.
The attack, Guatemala’s Defense Ministry stated, reflects the “criminal dynamics” dominating that border region, where different groups compete for drug and arms trafficking routes.
According to Guatemala’s Defense Ministry, the clash left a soldier wounded in the leg after suspected criminals crossed from Mexico and opened fire. The wounded soldier is reportedly in stable condition. Authorities also seized high-caliber weapons, explosives, tactical gear and drones, which were handed over for forensic analysis.
Mexican Defense Secretary General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo announced that a coordinated plan of operations will be launched involving both Mexican and Guatemalan forces along the border to counter these criminal networks.
Harfuch emphasized that the violence is not isolated but symptomatic of the ongoing struggle between criminal organizations for territorial control, and reiterated Mexico’s commitment to bilateral security cooperation and its intention to strengthen institutional presence in vulnerable border zones.
International
Zelensky meets Pope Leo XIV as review of U.S. peace plan continues
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met on Tuesday with Pope Leo XIV in Italy, after pledging to deliver a response to the United States regarding the proposed peace plan aimed at ending the war with Russia.
The meeting with the pontiff took place at the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, where Leo XIV “reiterated the need to continue dialogue and renewed his urgent hope that the ongoing diplomatic initiatives may lead to a just and lasting peace,” the Vatican said in a statement.
His visit to Italy follows Monday’s meetings with European leaders in London and Brussels, amid pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to agree to a peace plan that Zelensky said he is still reviewing.
According to Zelensky, the plan presented by Washington—originally consisting of 28 points—was reduced to 20 after discussions between Ukrainian and U.S. representatives over the weekend. “We are going to work on those 20 points. We are not completely satisfied with the proposals from our partners,” Zelensky said during an online press conference on Monday.
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