Hurricane Otis Devastates Acapulco, Mexico: Chaos and Destruction
ACAPULCO, Mexico — A day after Hurricane Otis roared ashore in Acapulco, unleashing massive floods and setting off looting, the resort city of nearly 1 million descended into chaos, leaving residents without electricity or internet service as the toll remained uncertain.
The early images and accounts were of extensive devastation, with toppled trees and power lines lying in brown floodwaters that extended for miles in some areas. This destructive scene delayed a comprehensive response by the government, which was still assessing the damage along Mexico’s Pacific coast, and fueled desperation among residents.
Many of the once luxurious beachfront hotels in Acapulco now looked like toothless, shattered hulks after the Category 5 storm blew out hundreds — and possibly thousands — of windows.
A widespread frustration with authorities was palpable. While 10,000 military troops were deployed to the area, they lacked the tools to clean tons of mud and fallen trees from the streets. The government electricity company sent hundreds of trucks to Acapulco on Wednesday, but were unable to restore power due to downed electricity lines lying in feet of mud and water.
Jakob Sauczuk, who was staying at a beachfront hotel when Otis hit, described their terrifying experience. “We laid down on the floor, and some between beds,” Sauczuk said. “We prayed a lot.”
A friend of Sauczuk even showed reporters photos of the windowless, shattered rooms in the hotel. It looked as if someone had put clothes, beds, and furniture in a blender, leaving a shredded mess.
Sauczuk complained that his group was given no warning and were not offered safer shelter by the hotel.
Pablo Navarro, an auto parts worker, believed he might die in his 13th-story hotel room. “I took shelter in the bathroom, and thankfully the door held,” said Navarro. “But there were some rooms where the wind blew out the windows and the doors.”
Navarro stood outside a discount grocery and household goods store near the hotel zone, witnessing people looting essential supplies. One resident, Isabel de la Cruz, explained that she was taking the opportunity to help her family after losing her home’s roof and important documents in the hurricane. She expressed her frustration, questioning when the government will start protecting the common people.
Authorities struggled to reopen the main highway connecting Acapulco to the state capital Chilpancingo and Mexico City, which took almost a day. The reopening allowed emergency vehicles, personnel, and trucks carrying supplies to reach the battered port. However, Acapulco’s commercial and military airports were too badly damaged to resume flights.
Acapulco’s Diamond Zone, known for its hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions, appeared mostly underwater in drone footage posted online. Large buildings had their walls and roofs partially or completely ripped off. Dislodged solar panels, cars, and debris littered severely damaged hotels. Meanwhile, people waded through waist-deep water in some areas, and soldiers worked to clear rubble from less-flooded streets.
As night fell, the city plunged into darkness with no phone service. However, some people managed to use satellite phones provided by the Red Cross to inform their families that they were safe.
Alicia Galindo, a stylist in San Luis Potosi, received a call from her parents and brother who were staying at Acapulco’s Hotel Princess. They described the terrifying ordeal of the storm, but fortunately, they escaped unhurt. Galindo was still waiting to hear from her boyfriend, who was in a different hotel.
Hurricane Otis, which rapidly strengthened from a tropical storm to a powerful Category 5, took many by surprise. The coastal towns of Acapulco, Tecpan, and others along the Costa Grande in Guerrero were hit the hardest. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador expressed that communication with the area had been completely lost due to the severe conditions caused by the hurricane.
Acapulco, once a popular destination for Hollywood stars, has faced challenges in recent years due to increasing violence driven by organized crime groups. This has led many international tourists to choose other destinations for their vacations.
López Obrador emphasized that Otis was a stronger hurricane than Pauline, which struck Acapulco in 1997 and caused extensive damage and over 300 fatalities.
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