A major hurricane bringing 120 mph winds hit the southern coast of Mexico overnight.
Hurricane John triggered a Foreign Office travel warning as it made landfall on the Pacific coast of the country.
The US National Hurricane Centre warned that “damaging hurricane-force winds, life threatening storm surge and flash flooding are ongoing”.
A hurricane warning was issued for an area east of Acapulco as it hit Marquelia in the state of Guerrero.
The Foreign Office updated its travel advice for Mexico and said: “A hurricane orange alert has been announced for the southern coast by local authorities.
“Hurricane John will affect areas from Guerrero, (Punta Maldonado) through Oaxaca (Puerto Angel, Puerto Escondido, Puerto Angel, Huatulco, and Salina Cruz) and Chiapas (Tonalá).
“You should closely monitor local and international weather updates from the US National Hurricane Centre and follow the advice of local authorities and your tour operator, including any evacuation orders.
“In the aftermath of a hurricane, there can be flooding, high winds and continued rainfall.”
Laura Velázquez, the federal co-ordinator of civil protection, told residents of Pacific coastal cities they should evacuate their homes and head to shelters in order to “protect theirs and their family’s lives”.
Oaxaca’s governor said the state government had evacuated 3,000 people and set up 80 shelters. It also said it sent out 1,000 military and state personnel to address the emergency, according to an Associated Press report.