Along Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, floodwaters have begun to recede, leaving behind devastated towns and 17 dead, after John struck the coast once as a hurricane and again as tropical storm Desperate residents in the town of Coyuca de Benitez,

Resort city Acapulco and surrounding towns face flooding and landslides and concerns about food supplies after John strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane.

Hurricane John strengthened once again on Thursday as it closed in on Mexico's southwestern coast dotted with ports and tourist hotspots, an area already soaked by the slow-moving storm system over the past several days.