Category 5 Hurricane Otis Knocks out all Communications in Acapulco, Mexico

[Meatpie]

Hurricane Otis knocked out all communications and unleashed a “nightmare scenario” in Acapulco in southern Mexico in Wednesday morning after the storm rapidly intensified into a Category 5 just before landfall and gave officials and residents little time to prepare.

Otis strengthened from a tropical storm to an extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane in just 12 hours before it slammed ashore near Acapulco as the strongest storm on record to hit this area and the Pacific coast of Mexico.

The sudden burst of power gave people little time to prepare or get to safety as Otis bore down on Acapulco, the popular tourist destination that’s also a permanent home to roughly 800,000 people.

As Otis kept strengthening and neared the coast, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center warned that a “nightmare scenario is unfolding.”

Otis’ center slammed into Mexico’s coast near Acapulco at around 12:25 a.m. local time with sustained winds of 165 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm is now headed inland with winds of 80 mph and is expected to dissipate over southern Mexico by Wednesday night, the center said.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/24/weather/hurricane-otis-acapulco-mexico/index.html

 

[Meatpie]

Good evening.

So far at least 27 people were killed by Hurricane Otis, which made landfall on Mexico's Pacific coast on Wednesday, officials say.

Acapulco was among the areas worst hit with 80% of the resort's hotels damaged and streets flooded.

The Mexican President travelled to the city by land and at one point had to get out of his car and walk as debris from a mudslide blocked the highway.

The storm brought winds of 165 miles per hour (265km/h) to the coastal areas before easing in strength.

Hurricane Otis is now the strongest landfalling Pacific hurricane on record and had the fastest intesification rate ever recorded in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

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[Meatpie]

Good evening. The death toll from a devastating hurricane that hit the Mexican beach resort of Acapulco last week has risen to 39, the government said on Saturday, as the president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, accused his opponents of exaggerating the scale of the disaster.

Hurricane Otis pounded Acapulco, in the southern state of Guerrero, with winds of 165mph (266 km/h) on Wednesday, flooding the city, tearing roofs from homes, stores and hotels, submerging vehicles, and severing communications as well as road and air connections.

The government, which previously reported 27 deaths and four other people missing, has so far released little information about the dead and injured. Looting has continued and residents in hard-hit neighbourhoods, struggling to find food and water, have accused the government of not delivering sufficient aid.

Death toll rises to 39 after Hurricane Otis strikes Mexican coast

Government says further 10 people unaccounted for in wake of storm that hit Acapulco with 165mph winds

www.theguardian.com

 

[Meatpie]

Good evening.

The number of people dead and missing due to Hurricane Otis has risen to close to 100.

Otis battered Acapulco with winds of 165mph (266km/h) on Wednesday, flooding the city, tearing roofs from homes, hotels and other businesses, submerging vehicles and severing communications as well as road and air connections.

Looting broke out as the city’s population of nearly 900,000 became increasingly desperate for food and water.

Evelyn Salgado, governor of Acapulco’s home state of Guerrero, said on Monday that 45 people were confirmed dead and 47 others were missing, citing figures from state prosecutors. Salgado had said on Sunday morning the death toll stood at 43.

Acapulco: nearly 100 dead and missing after Hurricane Otis, officials say

Governor of Guerrero state says 45 confirmed dead and 47 others missing after ferocious storm hit Mexican city on Wednesday

www.theguardian.com