“Otis”
Hurricane: Vacationers should be flown out of Acapulco
View of the destroyed window of a store in Acapulco. photo
© eduardo guerrero/dpa
“Otis” caused serious destruction in the famous seaside resort of Acapulco. Hotels, restaurants and shopping centers are badly damaged. The hoteliers are demanding a strategic plan.
Tens of thousands of tourists are expected to escape from the hurricane “The government announced that stranded vacationers in particular should be flown out via the airlift, but also residents from Acapulco could leave the destroyed city. Food and drinking water were also supposed to be brought into the region via the military airport.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador promised rapid support for the region, which is heavily dependent on tourism. “We have to help Acapulco get back on its feet as quickly as possible,” said the head of state at his daily press conference.
Meanwhile, cleanup efforts continued in Acapulco and surrounding communities. Thousands of soldiers and other emergency services were deployed to clear fallen trees and debris and make the roads passable again. A total of 17,500 soldiers and members of the National Guard were deployed. At least 27 people were killed in the violent storm and four others were missing.
Gusts of up to 330 kilometers per hour
“Otis” hit the coast as a hurricane of the highest level 5 on Wednesday night with sustained wind speeds of almost 270 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 330 kilometers per hour. In just twelve hours it had been upgraded from a tropical storm to an extremely dangerous hurricane. It then lost strength over land and finally dissipated.
The storm tore apart the facades of houses and caused window panes to shatter. There were widespread electricity, telephone and internet failures. In Acapulco, many people were only able to get around on foot through flooded streets blocked by debris. The cyclone also caused severe damage in surrounding towns. According to media reports, there were numerous lootings in supermarkets and other stores.
Acapulco is known for its cliff divers and luxury hotels. The holiday destination is also popular with low-budget tourists. The international jet set once stayed there. However, due to rampant violent crime, fewer and fewer tourists have recently come from abroad. Today it is primarily the residents of Mexico City who spend their holidays or long weekends there.
95 percent of the tourist infrastructure collapsed
In Acapulco, 95 percent of the tourist infrastructure has collapsed, the president of the Mexican Hotel Association (AMHM), Javier Saldívar, told the newspaper “Milenio”. It is estimated that “Otis” may have caused $15 billion in economic damage. Saldívar called for a strategic plan from the government to rebuild the sector. “83 percent of the income in the state of Guerrero depends on tourism. Now hotels, restaurants, bars, discos and shopping centers have been destroyed,” said the association president. “We don’t want gifts, but support.”