MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – The death toll from Hurricane Otis has risen to 39, according to the latest government figures on Saturday. Otis, a Category 5 storm, unleashed devastation in the Mexican Pacific resort city of Acapulco earlier this week.
With winds of 165 miles per hour (266 km per hour), Otis pounded Acapulco, causing widespread flooding, roof damage, and the submerging of vehicles. Communications and transportation were severely affected, cutting off the city from the outside.
The government’s previous reports stated that 27 people had died and four others were missing due to Otis. However, Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez now confirms that 10 people are unaccounted for.
Unfortunately, the aftermath of the storm led to rampant looting in Acapulco as residents struggled to obtain essential supplies. The government’s aid efforts in the city have been criticized for being insufficient, raising concerns about a potential increase in the death toll.
The updated death toll from the government of Guerrero, the state where Acapulco is located, includes 29 men and 10 women. The statement also reveals that more than 220,000 homes and 80% of the hotel sector have been affected, and over 513,000 people have lost power.
Otis’s devastation is estimated to cost billions of dollars, prompting the deployment of over 8,000 armed forces members to assist in recovery efforts. Mexican authorities claim that Otis was the most powerful storm ever to hit Mexico’s Pacific coast, catching forecasters off guard with its unexpected and rapid intensification.
Reporting by Daina Beth SolomonEditing by Dave Graham and Diane Craft
