The impact of Otis this morning on Guerrero’s Costa Grande was devastating. The storm made landfall in Acapulco around 12:45 a.m. as a Category 5 hurricane, the highest level on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with sustained winds of 260 kilometers per hour and waves up to 10 meters high. Its passage has resulted in broken roads, fallen trees and landslides on the highway that reaches the coastal city. At 9 a.m., Otis was downgraded to Level 1 within the state. The loss of life is unknown as President Andrés Manuel López Obrador stated in his morning conference that “communications have been completely lost” on the coast between the municipalities of Tecpan de Galeana and Acapulco.
MORE INFORMATION
The worst part of Otis’ time in Guerrero was endured by Acapulco. The Galerías Diana shopping center, located on the second line of El Morro Beach, has been left without walls and roof in its upper part after the hurricane’s winds, as can be seen in images shared by residents on social networks. Other publications show the damage to completely flooded houses on the Guerrero coast, many with power outages and no internet connection.
Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado has confirmed that there is an impact on the mobile network in Acapulco, which is expected to be restored later today. López Obrador has stated that he is thinking about going to the affected area: “How do we get there?” The military airport is destroyed but there are no flight options. “Let’s see what we do.” Yes, he confirmed the transfer of the Secretaries of Navy, Defense, Public Security and Communications to Guerrero to assess the damage caused by the hurricane.
Otis advances further inland and, according to the latest report from the National Meteorological Service (SMN), was in category 1 at nine o’clock in the morning, 20 kilometers south of the city of Altamirano. With this strength, the winds reach speeds of 150 kilometers per hour, accompanied by heavy rains.
The SMN has warned that heavy rains are expected this Wednesday in Guerrero, the most affected region. Heavy rains are forecast in Michoacán and the southwest of the state of Mexico, and will be very heavy in Morelos, southwest Chiapas and western Oaxaca.
Subscribe here Subscribe to the EL PAÍS México newsletter and receive all the important information on current events in this country