Acapulco Death Toll from Hurricane Otis Rises to 39, Amid Accusations of Exaggeration

October 28, 2023

REUTERS/Quetzalli Nicte-Ha

ACAPULCO, Mexico – The death toll from the catastrophic Hurricane Otis that struck the popular Mexican beach resort of Acapulco earlier this week has now reached 39, according to government officials on Saturday. However, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has accused his political opponents of exaggerating the extent of the disaster.

Hurricane Otis unleashed its fury on Acapulco, bringing winds that reached a staggering 165 miles per hour (266 kmph) on Wednesday. The hurricane caused widespread flooding, extensive damage to buildings, including homes, stores, and hotels, disrupted communication and transportation networks, and left many vehicles submerged.

Thus far, the government has provided scant information regarding the deceased and injured. Amidst ongoing looting incidents and residents struggling to find basic necessities such as food and water, many have criticized the government for not providing sufficient aid.

In an effort to apprise the public of the situation, President Lopez Obrador released a 24-minute video on social media. However, a significant portion of the video was dedicated to berating his critics, whom he accused of exploiting the disaster for political gain ahead of next year’s presidential election.

“They circle like vultures, they don’t care about people’s pain, they want to hurt us, for there to have been lots of deaths,” remarked Lopez Obrador in the video.

The president further claimed that media outlets attempting to smear his government had exaggerated the death toll. He stated that Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez would provide an accurate update on the number of casualties.

“Let her tell us… how many people have really lost their lives so far,” Lopez Obrador demanded. He also asserted that his administration was making unprecedented efforts to handle the aftermath of the hurricane, surpassing any previous government’s response.

Rodriguez stated that the victims are believed to have drowned due to the severity of the Category 5 storm, with an additional 10 people currently unaccounted for.

Rescue teams aboard two inflatable red boats scoured the Acapulco bay for victims. Upon their return, they carried three bodies wrapped in black bags. Investigators briefly unzipped the bags to capture photographs of the victims, while officials privately expressed concerns that the death toll could rise.

The dead comprised 29 men and 10 women, as reported by the government, relying on figures provided by Guerrero, the state in which Acapulco is located.

The hurricane has caused widespread destruction, affecting over 220,000 homes and 80% of the hotel sector. More than 513,000 people have lost power as a result of the storm.

In the Renacimiento neighborhood, residents waded through streets flooded with murky brown water, with levels rising as high as ankle-deep. Many voiced their frustration at the lack of assistance from the government.

“The government hasn’t given us any help, not even hope,” complained Apolonio Maldonado, displaying deep red cuts on his shins caused by the floodwaters. “They haven’t provided any food, mattresses, or cots.”

Martha Villanueva, another resident navigating through the flooded streets, covered her mouth with her hand, sobbing as she pleaded for help. “We want help. We lost everything in the water.”

The estimated cost of the devastation caused by Hurricane Otis runs into the billions of dollars. Over 8,000 members of the armed forces have been deployed to aid in the recovery efforts for the battered port.

This unprecedented storm caught forecasters off guard, rapidly gaining strength before making landfall and 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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