Uncertainty Surrounds Hurricane Otis' Impact on Acapulco, Mexico, amid Communication Disruptions
Mexican authorities struggle to assess the full impact of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco The Category 5 storm caused extensive damage and disrupted communication networks, leaving residents and emergency services in the dark
Mexican officials are currently assessing the full extent of the damage caused by Hurricane Otis, which made landfall near Acapulco as a Category 5 storm. The powerful storm has resulted in severe destruction and widespread communication disruptions for both residents and emergency response teams.
Due to these communication outages, authorities are facing significant challenges in accurately gauging and sharing the magnitude of the storm's impact. However, visuals captured through images and videos reveal the destructive consequences of Otis, with flooded roadways and numerous buildings displaying shattered windows and impaired infrastructure.
As of Wednesday morning, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador mentioned that there were no reported casualties, but noted that all communication systems in the area were non-functional.
According to power utility CFE, over 500,000 homes and businesses in Mexico's Guerrero state experienced power outages. However, 40% of those affected have had their service restored as of Wednesday.
Mexican government officials are traveling to Acapulco in order to personally assess the damage, as they have been unable to obtain a damage assessment from the teams on the ground. National Coordinator of Civil Protection, Laura Velázquez, explained in an interview with local news channel Milenio TV that the decision to visit Acapulco was made due to the lack of communication with their colleagues who have been there for a week performing preventative work for a tropical storm that unexpectedly intensified into a hurricane within 12 hours.
Officials and residents had insufficient time to prepare for the storm's severity as the initial forecasts greatly underestimated the threat. Within a mere 12 hours, Otis swiftly escalated from a tropical storm to an incredibly hazardous Category 5 hurricane—the strongest storm ever recorded in the area.
Residents survey damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Otis in Xaltianguis, Guerrero state, Mexico.
Alejandro Cegarra/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Otis rapidly lost strength upon reaching the mainland. By Wednesday afternoon, it had dissipated in the mountainous areas of southern Mexico. The downpours from the storm are expected to persist in the region until Thursday, potentially leading to flash floods and landslides, according to the National Hurricane Center.
While the immediate danger has diminished, the region is now embarking on the journey of recuperation.
Images from the affected region depict buildings demolished and covered in uprooted trees and plants, with high-rise buildings experiencing shattered windows. Additionally, numerous roads have been inundated, necessitating individuals to navigate through several feet of murky water.
Inside a residence in Acapulco, a video captured the chaos as a family sought refuge beneath a mattress, battling against the forceful winds and rain that tore apart their shattered windows.
Mexican National Guard members are currently engaged in the task of removing stranded vehicles, fallen trees, and other scattered debris caused by the storm, according to an official statement released by the agency.
Following the storm, operations at Acapulco International Airport have been temporarily halted as the facility undergoes recovery measures, as per the announcement from Mexico's Secretary of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation. The agency also shared pictures illustrating the vast piles of debris strewn across the airport premises.
Residents survey damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Otis in Xaltianguis, Guerrero state, Mexico.
Alejandro Cegarra/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Otis rapid intensification is a symptom of the human-caused climate crisis, scientists say - a scenario that is becoming more frequent.
Rapid intensification is defined by scientists as a wind speed surge of at least 35 mph within 24 hours or less, typically fueled by considerable ocean heat.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, over 90% of global warming in the last 50 years has occurred in the oceans. Furthermore, El Niño is currently developing in the Pacific, contributing to further increases in ocean temperatures.
CNNs Karol Suarez in Mexico City and CNNs Taylor Ward, Mary Gilbert, Ana Melgar, Claudia Rebaza and Rachel Ramirez contributed to this report.
