PUERTO ESCONDIDO, Mexico (AP) — Two people are dead after former hurricane John barreled into Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, blowing tin roofs off houses, triggering mudslides and toppling scores of trees, officials said Tuesday.

John struck Mexico’s southern coast on Monday night as a Category 3 hurricane after rapidly strengthening in the Pacific, triggering warnings of “life-threatening” floods and mudslides.

Tropical Storm Helene rapidly strengthened in the Caribbean Sea and was expected to become a hurricane Wednesday while moving north along Mexico's coast toward the U.S., leading residents to evacuate,