27 Dead, Acapulco in Ruins as Hurricane Otis Devastates Mexico Coast
At least 27 people have been reported dead and Acapulco, Mexico, has been left in ruins after Hurricane Otis made landfall on Wednesday as a record-breaking Category 5 storm. Mexican Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez said during a news conference on Thursday that four people are still missing.
Officials and military aid finally arrived in Acapulco on Wednesday after their travel was hindered by the widespread damage caused by Otis. The devastation left in the storm’s wake is heartbreaking. Images and videos show structures torn apart, including several high-rises. Roads have been inundated with storm surge and rain, leaving some residents wading through several feet of murky water.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador stated during a news conference on Thursday that there is not a single standing electric pole in all of Acapulco. He also mentioned that more than 1,000 workers are working to rebuild the grid to restore water services in the area. More than 500,000 homes and businesses in Mexico’s Guerrero state lost power, but 40% of those affected have had their service restored, according to power utility CFE.
Acapulco, a popular tourist destination, has been heavily impacted by Hurricane Otis. Approximately 80% of the city’s hotels have been affected, with the Guerrero Governor, Evelyn Salgado, stating that her office is evacuating tourists free of charge to other areas that were not affected by the storm.
Officials and residents had little time to prepare for the severity of the storm, as early forecasts significantly underestimated the threat. Otis rapidly intensified from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane, becoming the area’s strongest storm on record in just 12 hours.
Although Otis weakened quickly once it moved inland and dissipated over the mountains of southern Mexico, the region still faces the threat of heavy rains, which may trigger flash flooding and mudslides, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The path to recovery has just begun, with around 10,000 members of the military deployed to the Acapulco area to assist in the recovery efforts. Mexican National Guard personnel are working tirelessly to clear stranded vehicles, downed trees, and other debris left by the storm.
The Acapulco International Airport has suspended operations as it recovers from the storm, and scientists are pointing out that Otis’ rapid intensification is a symptom of the human-caused climate crisis, which is becoming more frequent.
The impact of rapid intensification is defined as a wind speed increase of at least 35 mph in 24 hours or less, generally requiring significant ocean heat. With more than 90% of global warming occurring in the oceans over the past 50 years, scientists believe that the rising ocean temperatures, along with the growing El Niño in the Pacific, are contributing to these extreme weather events.
As the region continues to assess and recover from the damage caused by Hurricane Otis, the international community is reminded of the urgent need to address climate change and its devastating impacts.