Hurrican Otis: Satellite Images Show Heartbreaking Devastation in Mexico
Hurricane Otis devastated Mexico, toppling trees, flooding roads, triggering landslides, and causing 27 deaths. Satellite images of the devastation showed just how much damage it had done.
AccuWeather released before and after images of what happened to the resort city of Acapulco in Guerrero State. The city is known for its beautiful beaches and luxurious hotels, but after Hurricane Otis hit, some of these hotels were damaged while the beautiful and pristine beaches look ruined.
Satellite images from before and after Hurricane #Otis slammed Acapulco, Mexico, show an incredible amount of damage caused by the Category 5 hurricane in just a single day. pic.twitter.com/ps6MSTExpA
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) October 27, 2023
Hurricane Otis was initially predicted only to be a tropical storm when it hit the Pacific Coast of Mexico. However, in just 12 hours, it grew into a monster Category 5 hurricane. This rapid growth surprised scientists who are still scratching their heads as to how Otis grew so strong so fast.
Many were caught unprepared as the storm grew so rapidly that many were not prepared for the devastation that usually comes with a Category 5, with Acapulco residents now begging the government to send more help.
Search and rescue workers initially struggled to get into highly affected areas because the flooding and landslides made the terrain difficult to pass through. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Acapulco residents lost power as repair crews worked around the clock to get electricity back.
Officials Say Conditions Are Improving in Acapulco, Mexico After Hurricane Otis Devastation
Acapulco, like so many places in Mexico, has shown just how resilient it is, as officials are now saying that conditions on the ground in the city are slightly improving just two days after Otis made landfall.
READ MORE: Mexico: Hurricane Otis Death Toll, Total Damage, Path, Revealed
An "air bridge" has now been set up between Mexico City and Acapulco as supplies and medical supplies begin flooding the city while tourists are being ferried out. Over 100 buses will be used to evacuate people from the devastated resort city.
According to The Weather Channel, the official death toll still stands at 27, with four people still missing. Meanwhile, power and phone service are still out in many parts of Acapulco while landslides have still blocked some roads. Despite this, the influx of rescuers is seen to help things improve.
Right now, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that "1,000 government workers would be going house-by-house to assess what people need."
Families Looking for Loved Ones They Have Not Seem Yet After Hurricane Otis Devastates Mexico
Even though communications and power still have not returned in parts of Acapulco, many residents are scouring online messaging platforms to look for loved ones Even Guerrero State Governor Evelyn Salgado is following their lead and urged people to send messages to the government's WhatsApp accounts to look for missing loved ones.
Miguel Angel Fong, president of the Mexican Hotel Association, spoke with the Associated Press and revealed that 80% of the city's hotels were damaged, with entire walls of beachside high rises ripped off while thousands of homes remained without electricity. Despite this, people are still not giving up hope and taking to messaging apps to look for loved ones.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: Hurricane Otis hits Mexico as a powerful Category 5 storm - NBC NEWS
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