Mexico’s government intensified its efforts on Sunday to aid the beleaguered coastal city of Acapulco, which had suffered the devastating impact of a record-breaking hurricane.
The death toll and the number of missing individuals continued to rise in the aftermath.
Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 storm, struck Acapulco on Wednesday, causing extensive damage to homes, hotels, and businesses with its powerful 165 mph (266 kph) winds.
The storm also disrupted power lines and communications, rendering the city’s nearly 900,000 residents cut off from the outside world.
In the wake of Otis’s destruction, looting occurred as essential supplies such as food, water, and gasoline became increasingly scarce, Reuters reported.
The government reported on Sunday that the hurricane had claimed the lives of 48 people, with six individuals still unaccounted for.
The governor of the southern state of Guerrero, where Acapulco is situated, had earlier mentioned that 36 people were missing.
A day prior, the toll had been 39 dead and 10 missing. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador stated that most of his cabinet members were already in Acapulco or en route to the city.
He also announced his intention to return to Acapulco later on Sunday to lead recovery efforts, while thousands of soldiers and police were dispatched to the area.
Written by staff
B.C. Begley 