The Mexican government has intensified its efforts to bring the stricken coastal city of Acapulco back to its feet following the devastating impact of Hurricane Otis. The Category 5 storm, which hit Acapulco with winds of 165 mph (266 kph), caused extensive damage to homes, hotels, and businesses, leaving the city's nearly 900,000 residents in a state of devastation. With power lines and communications down, the city has been left incommunicado, exacerbating the dire situation. The death toll from the hurricane continues to rise, with the government reporting 43 fatalities and another 36 individuals still unaccounted for.
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has mobilized his cabinet, with many officials already present or on their way to Acapulco. He plans to return to the city himself to lead the recovery efforts. Thousands of soldiers and police officers have been deployed to the area to assist in the recovery and restoration process. President Lopez Obrador expressed his determination to revive Acapulco, starting with its people, in a video posted on social media.
The estimated cost of the damage caused by Hurricane Otis could reach up to $15 billion. In response, the ministers of finance and the economy are set to visit Acapulco, along with the central bank governor. The devastation has left many residents struggling to find food and water, and they have criticized the government for its slow response. Blanca Estela Morales, a wheelchair-bound resident who lost everything, expressed her hardship and the lack of basic necessities in a government-run shelter.
The hurricane's impact on Acapulco has become a contentious political issue as Mexico's next presidential election approaches in just seven months. President Lopez Obrador has accused his critics of exploiting the situation and inflating the extent of the damage for electoral reasons. However, this has drawn criticism, with many arguing that the gravity of the disaster should not be downplayed. As families desperately search for missing loved ones and more victims are recovered from Acapulco's bay, tensions have escalated between the government and its opponents.
Former President Felipe Calderon, a longstanding adversary of President Lopez Obrador, accused the current administration of attempting to manipulate private aid donations to Acapulco. He claimed that these contributions were being rebranded as government donations. While these allegations have not been independently verified, presidential spokesman Jesus Ramirez accused Calderon of lying and accused some politicians and media outlets of seeking to benefit from the tragedy.
In response to the devastation, Mexico has deployed approximately 17,000 members of the armed forces to assist in maintaining order and distributing essential supplies in Acapulco. However, the cleanup efforts are expected to take a significant amount of time. The government announced that Hurricane Otis had damaged over 220,000 homes in Guerrero, which is just shy of the total number of homes registered in Acapulco in 2020.
Despite the challenges, progress is being made in the recovery process. Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado reported that power has been restored to 58% of Acapulco, and officials have assessed the damage to around 10,000 families in the area. President Lopez Obrador expressed his expectation that full electricity restoration will be completed by Tuesday. Additionally, Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval confirmed that 5,000 National Guard members would be assigned to provide security, and the armed forces have taken control of gas stations to prevent further looting.
This devastating hurricane has left Acapulco in turmoil, but Mexico's government is determined to restore the city and support its inhabitants. With concerted efforts and assistance, it is hoped that Acapulco can recover from this natural disaster and rebuild its vibrant coastal community.