After Hurricane ‘Otis’: the death toll in Mexico rises to 50

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A resident walks past the debris caused by Hurricane Otis. “Otis” was released on October 25 in Acapulco. Photo: Marco Ugarte/AP/dpa

Another thirty people are still missing, Guerrero state governor Evelyn Salgado announced Thursday during a joint press conference with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

A total of nearly 25,000 troops from the armed forces and National Guard were still on relief missions in Acapulco and the neighboring city of Coyuca de Benítez, according to Mexican Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval.

“Otis” struck the Pacific coast near Acapulco on the night of October 25 as a level five hurricane with sustained winds of nearly 170 miles per hour. It had developed unusually quickly from a tropical storm to a dangerous hurricane.

More than 270,000 apartments and houses were damaged and 80 percent of all hotels in the tourism-dependent region were affected, according to government figures. The electricity went out for days, resulting in looting.

The Mexican government has been accused of not adequately helping those affected. The government has now pledged more than 61 billion pesos (3.3 billion euros) for reconstruction. According to initial estimates, the storm caused economic damage of around 15 billion dollars (13.8 billion euros).

Acapulco was once known as a holiday destination for the international jet set. Due to rampant violence by criminal groups, it has lately been mainly residents of Mexico City and fewer and fewer tourists from abroad who have come to the city of about 800,000 inhabitants.

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(SDA)

Source: Blick

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Amelia

Amelia

I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.

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