Hurricane Otis, a powerful Category 5 storm, wreaked havoc on Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, particularly in the resort city of Acapulco. It caused massive flooding and resulted in looting as desperate individuals, tired of waiting for help, resorted to drastic measures. The full extent of the damage and the number of casualties remain unknown as Acapulco was mostly inaccessible by road. Experts consider Otis to be the strongest storm in history to make landfall along the Eastern Pacific Coast.
The once sleek beachfront hotels in Acapulco suffered significant damage, with hundreds, possibly thousands, of windows blown out. The resort descended into chaos after the storm, with mud and debris choking the streets. There was no electricity or internet service, and thousands of people engaged in looting. Jakob Sauczuk, who was staying at a beachfront hotel, described the devastation and the lack of warning or safer shelter provided by the hotel. Another individual, Pablo Navarro, who feared for his life in his hotel room on the 13th floor, expressed frustration at the authorities’ lack of preparedness. The situation was described as “out of control.”
Drone footage showed that Acapulco’s Diamond Zone, an oceanfront area with hotels and tourist attractions, was mostly underwater. Buildings had walls and roofs ripped off, and debris littered the area. People waded through waist-deep water, while soldiers cleared rubble from the streets. Communication in the city was limited, but some individuals were able to use satellite phones provided by the Red Cross to let their families know they were safe.
Alicia Galindo, whose family was staying at a hotel during the storm, described the terrifying experience. They witnessed windows falling, floors breaking, and doors collapsing, but thankfully, they escaped unhurt. However, Galindo was still waiting to hear from her boyfriend who was in a different hotel. The main highway into Acapulco was blocked by landslides, making it difficult for rescue efforts. People were desperate to escape and resorted to walking through mud and debris to reach safety.
Hurricane Otis caught many by surprise as it rapidly intensified from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane. Acapulco, Tecpan, and other towns in Guerrero were hit hard, and communication with the area was completely lost. Acapulco, once a popular destination for tourists, has suffered from violence in recent years, causing a decline in international visitors. The damage to the military airport further complicated access to the region. Mexican authorities deployed thousands of military personnel to the area and worked to restore power and phone service. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador compared Otis to the devastating hurricane Pauline that hit Acapulco in 1997.