Destruction and at least 27 dead in Acapulco due to the passage of Hurricane Otis

The passage of Hurricane Otis through the Mexican state of Guerrero, especially in the city of Acapulco, left at least 27 dead and four more missing.

The category 5 storm hit the iconic tourist resort with maximum sustained winds of 260 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 315 kilometers per hour, making it one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Mexican Pacific.

The number of deaths and disappearances was confirmed by Rosa Icela Rodríguez, Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection of the country, during the presidency’s morning press conference.

The official indicated that the hotel sector was particularly affected and added that the city’s earthquake alert system had also been damaged.

Telephony, internet, and a large part of the electric service were damaged by the storm, which strengthened in a few hours, reducing the population’s chances of preparing.

In the tourist area of Acapulco, images shared by guests showed the intensity of the winds in the early morning and the improvised shelters in hotel halls.

Videos broadcast on local television showed neighborhoods in Acapulco flooded by the overflowing of rivers and streams.

«It is a very strong hurricane, of great intensity, and it had an atypical behavior. This had not happened in decades,» said President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

The president, who reported that there is no communication in the area, traveled to Acapulco by land to coordinate relief efforts.

Otis weakened after entering the southern part of the country, but it continued to generate heavy rains.