The death toll from Hurricane Otis, which reached the Mexican coastal city of Acapulco on Wednesday, is expected to rise. This is because people are feared to have drowned in the sea or perished under demolished buildings.
Many were unprepared for the hurricane which started as a tropical storm and quickly developed into a “catastrophic” Category 5 hurricane with speeds of up to 266 kilometers per hour, in just twelve hours. Several were out riding boats along the coast when the hurricane approached land.
The country’s security minister, Rosa Icela Rodrígue, stated in a statement on Saturday that the probable cause of death for the deceased persons is drowning.
Rescue workers and volunteers continue the search for more dead, injured and survivors along the coast and under the rubble.
Lack of food and water
The Mexican government has sent in the military, but aid is coming slowly, according to aid agencies. There is a shortage of food and water, reports AFP, who spoke to several victims in the area.
In addition, the municipal water system has been knocked out because the water pumps have no power. Most families are desperately hunting for water, and some AFP spoke to testify that they rationed their supplies.
The authorities in Mexico say that the military presence will increase to 15,000 soldiers in the area. The country’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has called on the armed forces to set up road checkpoints in the city to avoid robberies and riots.
According to Obrador, the national electricity company has restored power to 55% of customers in the affected area, but that more than 200,000 homes and businesses are still without power.
The federal Civil Defense Agency says 220,000 homes were damaged by the hurricane.