John becomes major Category 3 hurricane near Mexico

Mexico's top disaster agency issued a red alert for parts of the country's southern Pacific coast on Monday after Hurricane John rapidly strengthened to a Category 2 storm and threatened to get stronger before making landfall in the coming hours.

The national Civil Protection agency issued its most serious warning for coastal regions of Mexico's southern Guerrero and Oaxaca states, warning residents to seek shelter until authorities give the all-clear.

The agency said the storm's current path put it on track to make landfall between Copala, Guerrero, and Santiago PinotepaNacional, Oaxaca, between 9 pmand 1 amlocal time.