Tag Archives: Acapulco

Cat 5 Storm Hurricane Otis leaves Acapulco in disarray

Hurricane-Otis-Acapulco

Important Takeaways:

  • Nearly 100 dead and missing in Mexico from hurricane -state governor
  • The number of people dead and missing due to Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 storm which hammered the Mexican Pacific resort city of Acapulco last week, has risen to close to 100, authorities in the state of Guerrero said on Monday.
  • Otis battered Acapulco with winds of 165 miles per hour (266 km per hour) on Wednesday, flooding the city, tearing roofs from homes, hotels and other businesses, submerging vehicles, and severing communications as well as road and air connections.
  • Evelyn Salgado, governor of Acapulco’s home state of Guerrero, said 45 people were confirmed dead and 47 others were missing, citing figures from state prosecutors. Salgado had said on Sunday morning the death toll stood at 43.
  • On Sunday afternoon, Mexico’s federal civil protection authorities said there were 48 dead, consisting of 43 in Acapulco and five in nearby Coyuca de Benitez.

Read the original article by clicking here.

Hurricane Otis slams into Mexico causing widespread power outages and mudslides

Hurricane-Otis-aftermath

Important Takeaways:

  • Hurricane Otis caused 27 confirmed deaths and left 4 missing, Mexican authorities report
  • Mexican authorities gave the first human toll for Hurricane Otis’ destruction along the country’s Pacific coast Thursday: at least 27 dead and four missing.
  • Tens of thousands of residents in damaged homes without electricity awaited help more than a day after Otis roared ashore in Acapulco.
  • López Obrador said the destruction was so complete that not a single power line pole remained standing in the impact zone. Small farmers had their corn crops devastated by Otis’ wind and pounding rain, he said. Restoring power to the area was a top priority, he said.
  • The early images and accounts were of extensive devastation, toppled trees and power lines lying in brown floodwaters that in some areas extended for miles. The resulting destruction delayed a comprehensive response by the government, which was still assessing the damage along the coast, and made residents desperate.
  • Many of the once sleek beachfront hotels in Acapulco looked like toothless, shattered hulks after the Category 5 storm blew out hundreds — and possibly thousands — of windows

Read the original article by clicking here.

CAT 5 hurricane to make landfall near Acapulco

Hurricane-Otis

Important Takeaways:

  • Hurricane Otis strengthens into Mexico’s most powerful storm as the ‘catastrophic’ Category 5 barrels towards Acapulco
  • Hurricane Otis intensified from a tropical storm to a dangerous Category 5 hurricane in a matter of hours as it drew near Mexico’s southern Pacific coast and was projected to cause catastrophic damage.
  • The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Otis had maximum sustained winds of 160 miles per hour on Tuesday evening.
  • It was centered about 55 miles south-southeast of Acapulco and moving north-northwest at 9 mph.
  • ‘This is an extremely serious situation for the Acapulco metropolitan area with the core of the destructive hurricane likely to come near or over that large city early on Wednesday,’ the center said.
  • ‘There are no hurricanes on record even close to this intensity for this part of Mexico.’
  • Otis will likely die out over southern Mexico on Wednesday night.
  • But the storm is anticipated to dump eight to 16 inches of rain on the country by the end of the week, with some areas seeing up to 20 inches.
  • The heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding as well as mudslides in areas with elevated terrain
  • The Guerrero state government said it was preparing 396 shelters in anticipation of families being displaced by wind or water damage.
  • Mexico’s army and navy sent more than 8,000 troops to the area to aid in rescues
  • If Otis makes landfall as a Category 5 hurricane, it will be the first of its kind in the East Pacific.

Read the original article by clicking here.

Crime and violence widespread, US State Department warns travelers to stay out of Acapulco

Matthew 24:12 – “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

Important Takeaways:

  • Mexico beachgoers at popular tourist area find 3 dead bodies with torture marks washed ashore
  • US State Department warned Americans last month not to travel to Acapulco
  • “Crime and violence are widespread,” the State Department warned. “Armed groups operate independently of the government in many areas of Guerrero. Members of these groups frequently maintain roadblocks and may use violence towards travelers. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping in previous years.”
  • Acapulco was listed as the 7th deadliest city in the world in 2019, largely a result of cartel violence, after being one of the most popular travel destinations for Hollywood A-listers for decades beginning in the 1940s.

Read the original article by clicking here.

 

Powerful quake shakes southwest Mexico, one dead

By Uriel Sanchez

ACAPULCO, Mexico (Reuters) – A powerful earthquake struck southwestern Mexico near the beach resort of Acapulco on Tuesday, killing at least one man who was crushed by a falling post, and causing rock falls and damaging buildings, authorities said.

The quake of magnitude 7.0, which hit 11 miles (17.7 km) northeast of Acapulco, shook the hillsides around the city, downing trees and pitching large boulders onto roads, causing power outages in several states.

Many people gathered in the streets of the Mexican holiday destination amid the aftershocks.

“We were only just checking into the hotel, so we have all our things with us,” said Jessica Arias, who was part of a group of eight visiting from Mexico City, the capital. “They told us it’s still not safe to enter.”

Others said they were having dinner or at the cinema when the quake hit.

“We were in shock,” said Andrea del Valle, who was sitting on a pavement with her partner after rushing out of a cinema. “There were no earthquake alarms, so we felt it when it was already happening.”

Guerrero state governor Hector Astudillo told local television that a man was killed by a falling post in Coyuca de Benitez, a small town just west of Acapulco.

Authorities reported a gas leak at a café as well as damage to a hotel and a public hospital.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the earthquake had not caused major damages in Guerrero, the neighboring region of Oaxaca, Mexico City or any other areas.

Acapulco is roughly 230 miles (370 km) from Mexico City.

In the central Roma Sur neighborhood of Mexico City, lights went off and scared residents rushed out, some in little more than their pajamas, a Reuters witness said. Residents huddled together in the rain, holding young children or pets.

“It was terrible. It really reminds me of the 1985 quake every time something like this happens,” said Yesmin Rizk, a 70-year-old resident of the neighborhood. “I’m not sure we’ll sleep tonight.”

A massive earthquake that struck the Mexican capital in 1985 killed thousands of people.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said Tuesday’s quake, initially measured at a magnitude of 7.4 and later downgraded to 7.0, was relatively shallow, just 12 miles below the surface, which would have amplified the shaking effect.

Mexican state power utility the Comision Federal de Electricidad said in a statement 1.6 million users had been affected by the quake in Mexico City, the adjacent State of Mexico, and the states of Guerrero, Morelos and Oaxaca.

(Reporting by Uriel Sanchez, Sharay Angulo and Dave Graham, additional reporting by Stefanie Eschenbacher; Writing by Shri Navaratnam; Editing by Sandra Maler, Christopher Cushing and Ana Nicolaci da Costa)

Hurricane Raymond Threatens Already Damaged Mexican Coast

Tropical Storm Raymond upgraded to a Hurricane on Sunday and forecasters believe the storm could hit a part of Mexico’s Pacific coastline that has already been devastated by storms this year.

The National Hurricane Center is predicting that Category 2 Hurricane Raymond would take a sharp turn toward the ocean after reaching within 50 miles of the Mexican coast but that the winds and rain from the storm’s bands could bring the threat of heavy rain, flooding and landslides.

The storm is expected to hit around the resort city of Acapulco, which had been seriously damaged in mid-September by Tropical Storm Manuel. The city’s airport had been flooded forcing the military to conduct an emergency evacuation of tourists. The damage from Manuel had been estimated in the six billion dollar range and most repairs have not taken place. Over 120 people were killed as a result of Manuel.

Forecasters say a cold front moving south is what would direct the storm back out to sea but if the cold front stall or slows the Hurricane could reach closer to the coast or even make landfall.

Officials in the coastal areas have closed seaports and have urged residents to evacuate. They say many of the area’s dams are already filled past capacity and while attempts are being made to lower water levels any significant rain could cause flash flooding or landslides.