Hurricane Otis – latest: Fears grow for people still missing in Acapulco after storm killed 27

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrado said a “house-to-house” census will begin today in Acapulco to assess the extent of the damage caused by Hurricane Otis.

“Everyone will receive support, more than 400.000 houses will be visited,” he said at a press conference.

Two years before Hurricane Otis ripped through Guerrero State, Mexico cut its disaster relief fund.

The decision has left much uncertainty on how the region will recover from the Category 5 storm which left 27 people dead and at least $10billion in damage in the city of Acapulco and neighboring villages.

Mexico’s Fund for Natural Disasters, known as Fonden, was set up in the late Nineties, taking a small portion of the federal budget in order to rapidly respond to natural disasters. It was widely admired as a progressive move.

Martha McHardy reports:

Bishops in Mexico have urged assistance for those affected by Hurricane Otis after the Category 5 hurricane ripped through part of the country on Sunday.

Hurricane Otis brought 165mph winds and torrential rainfall to Acapulco on Wednesday, leaving thousands without water and electricity.

“We are aware of the pain and anguish that overwhelms thousands of families who have lost their homes, property and livelihoods in these disaster areas. Many localities suffered serious damage to infrastructure, and found themselves prevented from accessing essential services,” the Mexican bishops’ conference said in a statement.

“In these difficult times, we call for unity and fraternity among Mexicans. We urge the provision of generous assistance for those affected, especially the poorest and most vulnerable. May no one remain indifferent to the suffering of others,” the statement continued.

Hurricane Otis slammed into Mexico early on Wednesday as the strongest ever storm to make landfall on the country’s west coast.

Otis went from a Category 1 to Category 5 hurricane in just 12 hours — the fastest rate ever recorded in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

The storm made landfall near Acapulco and is moving north-northwest through the country.

As global temperatures increase and sea levels rise, tropical cyclones - the catch-all term for hurricanes and typhoons - are expected to become more powerful and destructive, scientists say.

Louise Boyle reports:

A tourist staying in Acapulco when Hurricane Otis made landfall Wednesday as a massive Category 5 storm recalled how she hid for hours in her room to ride out the surprise weather event.

“We hid in the bathroom for hours,” Adelita Jiménez, 42, told NPR. She and her husband were with their two teenage children visiting Acapulco for a family reunion when the storm hit. “We just held onto each other. We didn’t know if we would survive.”

Tourists searched through the partially destroyed city for food following the storm.

The Mexican government deployed trucks on Thursday to help evacuate tourists from the city.

The Mexican government has deployed 13,000 troops to Acapulco to help manage the recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Otis, which devastated the city when it made landfall as a Category 5 storm on Wednesday.

Vehicles have been deployed to help evacuate stranded tourists while responders work to deliver food and provisions to the city’s residents.

Meanwhile, Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador held a press conference on Friday morning to urge residents — who are growing increasingly depserate for food, water, and other basic provisions — not to loot businesses as they struggle in the wake of the storm.

Residents in Acapulco have reportedly had to resort to looting for necessary medications and basic provisions in the wake of Hurricane Otis, which devastated the city when it made landfall Wedensday as a Category 5 storm.

Acapulco residents have complained that they’ve received little in the way of government assistance in the immediate aftermath of the storm.

“We came to get ice because we have meat and fish at home and it’s gonna go off,” Olivia Bautista, 48, told NPR outside a convenience store in the city. “I’ve never stolen anything in my life. This is so terrible. We have money but there’s nowhere to buy.”

NPR noted in its reporting that its team on the ground did not see a single store open to sell provisions to residents.

Another man told the outlet that he had spent hours trekking around the partially-destroyed city in search of medication for aunt, who was recently released from a cancer ward.

“People are desperate but they are taking whatever they can, even if they don’t need it,” Manuel Magallón told NPR. “My aunt really needs this medication. It’s disappointing.”

Jose Andreas, a world-renown chef known for providing food and assistance in the wake of global disasters through his World Central Kitchen program, announced on Friday he was headed to Acapulco to assist in the relief efforts underway.

“@WCKitchen on the way now to support after #HurricaneOtis! We’re bringing helicopters full of sandwiches & water. Its still very early after the storm & not possible to land in Acapulco..but we’ll do whatever we can..fly..drive to help communities immediately! #ChefsForMexico,“ Mr Andreas tweeted on Friday.