AP PHOTOS: Devastation followed by desperation in Acapulco after Hurricane Otis rips through
AP PHOTOS: Devastation followed by desperation in Acapulco after Hurricane Otis rips through
A damaged car is covered by debris in the driveway of a hotel after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
People carry away items they took from a grocery store after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Hurricane Otis ripped through Mexico’s southern Pacific coast as a powerful Category 5 storm, unleashing massive flooding, ravaging roads and leaving large swaths of the southwestern state of Guerrero without power or cellphone service. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
Damaged buildings stand after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
A traffic sign lays on a car after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Hurricane Otis ripped through Mexico’s southern Pacific coast as a powerful Category 5 storm, unleashing massive flooding, ravaging roads and leaving large swaths of the southwestern state of Guerrero without power or cellphone service. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
A Mexican National Guard soldier tries to stop people who are carrying away items like toilet paper and beans that they took from a store inside a shopping mall after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Hurricane Otis ripped through Mexico’s southern Pacific coast as a powerful Category 5 storm, unleashing massive flooding, ravaging roads and leaving large swaths of the southwestern state of Guerrero without power or cellphone service. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
Downed power and telephone poles lay on a street after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
Damaged buildings stand after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
People walk away with items taken from stores after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. Many residents were taking basic items from stores to survive. Others left with pricier goods, in widespread rampages through the area’s stores. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
A hotel is strewn with debris after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
Damaged vehicles are parked covered by debris i the driveway of a hotel after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
A woman takes diapers from a supermarket after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Hurricane Otis ripped through Mexico’s southern Pacific coast as a powerful Category 5 storm, unleashing massive flooding, ravaging roads and leaving large swaths of the southwestern state of Guerrero without power or cellphone service. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
Debris fills a beach after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
A damaged car is covered by debris in the driveway of a hotel after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
A damaged car is covered by debris in the driveway of a hotel after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
People carry away items they took from a grocery store after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Hurricane Otis ripped through Mexico’s southern Pacific coast as a powerful Category 5 storm, unleashing massive flooding, ravaging roads and leaving large swaths of the southwestern state of Guerrero without power or cellphone service. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
People carry away items they took from a grocery store after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Hurricane Otis ripped through Mexico’s southern Pacific coast as a powerful Category 5 storm, unleashing massive flooding, ravaging roads and leaving large swaths of the southwestern state of Guerrero without power or cellphone service. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
Damaged buildings stand after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
Damaged buildings stand after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
A traffic sign lays on a car after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Hurricane Otis ripped through Mexico’s southern Pacific coast as a powerful Category 5 storm, unleashing massive flooding, ravaging roads and leaving large swaths of the southwestern state of Guerrero without power or cellphone service. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
A traffic sign lays on a car after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Hurricane Otis ripped through Mexico’s southern Pacific coast as a powerful Category 5 storm, unleashing massive flooding, ravaging roads and leaving large swaths of the southwestern state of Guerrero without power or cellphone service. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
A Mexican National Guard soldier tries to stop people who are carrying away items like toilet paper and beans that they took from a store inside a shopping mall after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Hurricane Otis ripped through Mexico’s southern Pacific coast as a powerful Category 5 storm, unleashing massive flooding, ravaging roads and leaving large swaths of the southwestern state of Guerrero without power or cellphone service. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
A Mexican National Guard soldier tries to stop people who are carrying away items like toilet paper and beans that they took from a store inside a shopping mall after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Hurricane Otis ripped through Mexico’s southern Pacific coast as a powerful Category 5 storm, unleashing massive flooding, ravaging roads and leaving large swaths of the southwestern state of Guerrero without power or cellphone service. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
Downed power and telephone poles lay on a street after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
Downed power and telephone poles lay on a street after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
Damaged buildings stand after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
Damaged buildings stand after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
People walk away with items taken from stores after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. Many residents were taking basic items from stores to survive. Others left with pricier goods, in widespread rampages through the area’s stores. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
People walk away with items taken from stores after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. Many residents were taking basic items from stores to survive. Others left with pricier goods, in widespread rampages through the area’s stores. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
A hotel is strewn with debris after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
A hotel is strewn with debris after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
Damaged vehicles are parked covered by debris i the driveway of a hotel after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
Damaged vehicles are parked covered by debris i the driveway of a hotel after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
A woman takes diapers from a supermarket after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Hurricane Otis ripped through Mexico’s southern Pacific coast as a powerful Category 5 storm, unleashing massive flooding, ravaging roads and leaving large swaths of the southwestern state of Guerrero without power or cellphone service. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
A woman takes diapers from a supermarket after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Hurricane Otis ripped through Mexico’s southern Pacific coast as a powerful Category 5 storm, unleashing massive flooding, ravaging roads and leaving large swaths of the southwestern state of Guerrero without power or cellphone service. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
Debris fills a beach after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
Debris fills a beach after Hurricane Otis ripped through Acapulco, Mexico, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. The hurricane that strengthened swiftly before slamming into the coast early Wednesday as a Category 5 storm has killed at least 27 people as it devastated Mexico’s resort city of Acapulco. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) — First came the devastation, then people’s desperation.
Hurricane Otis blasted the Mexican tourist port of Acapulco like no other storm before in the Eastern Pacific. As a monstrous Category 5 meteor, with its 165 mph (266 kph) winds, it destroyed what it found in its path: large residential buildings, houses, hotels, roads and stores.
Fallen trees and power line poles covered practically all the streets in this city of more than 1 million people. The walls and the roofs of buildings and houses were left partially or totally ripped off, while some cars were buried under debris.
Otis made landfall in the middle of the night, and within hours people who survived the hurricane started looking for basic items and necessities. People took what they needed: diapers, food, water and toilet paper.
Acapulco sits at the foot of steep mountains, and decades ago was where Hollywood stars traveled to enjoy its nightlife, sport fishing and cliff diving shows. But in recent years it’s been more of a domestic tourism destination.
Otis surprised experts because it went from mild to monster in record time. So far, the authorities say that there are only 27 dead and four missing.
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