The Mexican government said Thursday. That at least 27 people were kill by Hurricane Otis and four others were still missing. When one of the most powerful storms hit the Pacific coast resort of Acapulco early Wednesday local time.
The most powerful storm, with speeds of 270 kilometers per hour. Ever to hit the region caused damage estimated at billions of dollars.
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the government. Working to repair the power grid and clear debris from the Category. 5 storm that hit the southern state of Guerrero.
Obrador arrived at the scene late Wednesday after his convoy blocked by roads blocked by landslides and other debris, forcing officials to abandon their vehicles and walk part of the way.
Hurricane Otis caused flooding, damaged the roofs of houses and hotels and cut off communication networks, roads and air access.
Pictures and videos showed destroyed buildings, including several high-rise buildings. Storm surge and rain left roads submerged, with some people having to wade through several feet of murky water.
People told of the horror when Hurricane Otis made landfall Tuesday Wednesday night, causing major structural damage.
“The building was shaking as if there was an earthquake,” Citlali Portillo, a tourist accommodation manager, told television channel Televisa, adding that she took refuge in a bathtub.
Hurricane Otis overturned vehicles and even left a car in the lobby of a luxury hotel, surrounded by broken glass and debris.
Some residents toiled for hours through mud and rubble in an effort to find food and shelter.
“Acapulco is a complete disaster. It’s not like before,” said Eric Hernandez, 24, who decided to leave on foot.
Others said overflowing rivers and collapsed bridges had cut off communities near Acapulco, which is home to about 780,000 people.
Disconnected power and telephone lines made it difficult for officials to immediately assess the damage.
Nearly 8,400 members of Mexico’s army, air force and national guard were deploy to Acapulco and surrounding areas to help clean up, the Defense Ministry said.
Schools across the state were close for the second day after the storm. Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado said on social media that authorities were working to repair the electricity network and water pumps in Acapulco
A popular tourist destination, about 80 percent of hotels in Acapulco were impacted by Otis
according to Salgado. He said his office “supports tourists” with “30 to 40 trucks located outside hotels to evacuate (visitors) to other areas for free.”
State power company CFE has hired more than 1,300 workers to restore power, it said on Wednesday, as some 300,000 residents remained without electricity.
The city’s international airport was also closed after Hurricane Otis damaged a control tower, knocked out telecommunications and blocked road access.
Officials and residents had little time to prepare for the severity of the storm because initial forecasts underestimated the threat. Hurricane Otis rapidly escalated from a tropical storm to an extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane – the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the region – in just 12 hours.
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