Hurricane Otis, a catastrophic Category 5 storm that ravaged the Mexican Pacific resort city of Acapulco in Guerrero state earlier this week, has resulted in an alarming death toll of 43, as announced by Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado on social media.
Hurricane Otis bringing winds of 165mph (266 km/h) and unleashing destructive flooding inflicted severe damage upon Acapulco, tearing apart roofs of homes, stores, and hotels, inundating vehicles, and disrupting vital communication, road, and air networks.
Information regarding the victims and the injured remains limited, leaving communities in heavily affected areas struggling to secure essential supplies and expressing frustration with the perceived inadequate support from the government. Instances of looting have compounded the challenges faced by residents in the region.
According to Mexican authorities, Hurricane Otis marked the most intense storm ever recorded along the country’s Pacific coast. The rapid intensification and unexpected ferocity of the hurricane took forecasters by surprise, surpassing initial expectations as it made landfall.
