Title: Hurricane Otis Leaves Acapulco Devastated, Death Toll at 39
Date: October 28, 2023
ACAPULCO, Mexico – The death toll from Hurricane Otis, which wreaked havoc in the Mexican beach resort of Acapulco, has risen to 39, according to the government. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, however, accused his opponents of exaggerating the scale of the disaster.
Hurricane Otis struck Acapulco on Wednesday, unleashing winds of 165 miles per hour (266 kmph) that resulted in severe flooding, roof damage, submergence of vehicles, and disrupted communications, roads, and air travel.
While the government had previously reported 27 deaths with four missing, limited information has been released concerning the victims. As a result, residents in badly affected neighborhoods have accused the government of inadequate aid delivery, with reports of continued looting.
In response, President Lopez Obrador took to social media to address the situation, dedicating a significant portion of his 24-minute video to criticizing his critics, whom he accused of exploiting the disaster for political gain ahead of the upcoming presidential election. He emphasized that his administration was doing more than any previous government to manage the aftermath of the hurricane.
According to Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez, who provided an update on casualties, the victims are believed to have drowned due to the Category 5 storm. She further added that ten people remain unaccounted for.
Rescue teams, utilizing inflatable red boats, scoured the Acapulco bay for drowning victims. Three bodies were recovered and photographed before being wrapped in black bags.
There are concerns among officials that the death toll may increase, as over 220,000 homes and 80% of the hotel sector have been affected, leaving more than half a million people without power.
In the Renacimiento neighborhood, residents waded through flooded streets and expressed their disappointment over the lack of assistance from the government. Apolonio Maldonado, a resident, revealed deep cuts on his shins and criticized the absence of essential supplies such as food, mattresses, and cots. Martha Villanueva, another resident, tearfully shared her anguish at losing everything to the floodwaters.
The estimated cost of the devastation caused by Hurricane Otis is in the billions of dollars. To aid in the recovery efforts, more than 8,000 armed forces members have been deployed to Acapulco.
Mexican authorities have declared Hurricane Otis as the most powerful storm ever to hit Mexico’s Pacific coast. It surprised forecasters by accumulating strength at an unexpected rate before making landfall, surpassing initial predictions.
Reporting by Josue Decavele, Quetzalli Nicte-Ha, Jose Cortes in Acapulco; Daina Beth Solomon in Mexico City; Editing by Dave Graham, Diane Craft, David Gregorio, and Raju Gopalakrishnan
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Source: Reuters News