Catastrophic Hurricane Otis Claims at Least 27 Lives in Mexico

The Mexican government announced today, Thursday, that at least 27 people have died due to Hurricane Otis, which devastated the resort city of Acapulco on the Pacific coast. Otis tore off roofs from homes and hotels, disrupted communications and roads, and closed airspace, leaving destruction across Acapulco, a city with around 900,000 residents. The government reported that four others are still missing. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador stated in a press conference in Mexico City that what Acapulco experienced was "truly catastrophic." He added that the missing individuals are believed to be members of the naval forces. López Obrador traveled to Acapulco by road yesterday, Wednesday, and had to change vehicles multiple times due to the damage caused by the hurricane, according to images shared on social media, one of which showed him sitting inside a four-wheel drive vehicle stuck in mud. Acapulco is the largest city in the southern state of Guerrero, one of the poorest regions in Mexico, which relies heavily on tourism for its local economy. Hurricane Otis caused immense damage to some of the city's famous hotels located along the coastline.