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New satellite images reveal extensive damage caused by Hurricane Otis in Acapulco
Newly released satellite images provide a visual representation of the catastrophic destruction caused by Category 5 Hurricane Otis in Acapulco and other parts of southern Mexico. This storm, with its powerful 165-mph winds and gusts, was unlike anything the region has ever experienced.
The city of Acapulco, known for its picturesque high-rise hotels and residences, now lies in ruins. The strong winds ripped apart the skyline, leaving behind mud-stained remnants of concrete and twisted metal. The storm surge, driven by the fierce winds, inundated the coastal areas, resulting in at least 27 casualties.
The damage to the infrastructure is immense. Approximately 80% of the hotels in Acapulco have been severely affected, according to Jorge Laurel, the former president of the Acapulco Association of Hotels and Tourist Enterprises. The entire electrical grid has suffered significant damage, leaving the city without power.
What makes Hurricane Otis particularly alarming is how rapidly it intensified. The storm unexpectedly gained strength, fueled by warmer ocean temperatures. This serves as a stark reminder of the kind of extreme weather events that scientists believe will become more common due to climate change and global warming.
The impact of the storm caught many residents and tourists off guard. Melitón López, a father searching for his missing daughter, recounted her last communication during the storm. She described the chaos and destruction, but then they lost contact. The storm has left people like López desperately searching for their loved ones.
Despite the off-season for tourism, an estimated 40,000 visitors were present in Acapulco during the storm. Some tourists found themselves trapped under a bridge for hours as they sheltered from the raging storm after their bus was unable to return them to their hotels.
The devastation caused by Hurricane Otis serves as a stark reminder of the destructiveness of extreme weather events and highlights the need for continued efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.
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