Hurricane Otis, Category 5, the maximum level, arrived in Mexico this Wednesday and threatens to cause “catastrophic” damage, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. It made landfall near the Pacific resort of Acapulco with wind gusts of 265 kilometers per hour. said the NHC.
125 hours CDT: Category 5 hurricane #Otis makes landfall near Acapulco, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds estimated at 165 mph. pic.twitter.com/lZjU4S4ELQ
– NHC Eastern Pacific (@NHC_Pacific) October 25, 2023
As the storm approached the coast, it rapidly intensified and made landfall as a maximum Category 5 hurricane.
WATCH: Conditions worsen in Acapulco, Mexico as Category 5 Hurricane Otis makes landfall pic.twitter.com/qIcJKJxD4U
– BNO News (@BNONieuws) October 25, 2023
WATCH: Hospital in Acapulco, Mexico hit by Hurricane Otis pic.twitter.com/RyxBBbMcpb
– BNO News (@BNONieuws) October 25, 2023
Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador called on social media for people to protect themselves and stay in safe placesas emergency shelters, and away from rivers and ravines.
Attention to the entire population of the Costa Grande de Guerrero:
According to available information, the Otis huracan is forecast to enter the Category 5 area between Acapulco and Tecpan de Galeana from 4 to 6 morning.
The Plan is in the making… pic.twitter.com/PrTRWHwrfl
– Andrés Manuel (@lopezobrador_) October 25, 2023
Soldiers were previously seen patrolling Acapulco beach, where visitors made the most of the calm before the storm.
Heavy rain is expected in Guerrero and parts of neighboring Oaxaca state, the NHC said.
“These rains will cause flash floods and urban flooding along with landslides in higher areas,” he warned. “A potentially catastrophic storm is expected to cause potentially fatal coastal flooding.” he added.
#BREAK | The worst wind and rain are currently happening in Acapulco, Guerrero, through the eye of #Otis. #Otis #Mexico #Weatherupdate #Huracan #Hurricane pic.twitter.com/m5tlj85yTU
– Latest news 24/7 (@aliifil1) October 25, 2023
Hurricanes hit Mexico every year, usually between May and November, although few make landfall as Category 5.
In October 1997, Hurricane Pauline struck the coast of Mexico as a Category 4 storm, killing more than 200 people. It was one of the deadliest hurricanes to hit Mexico.
In October 2015, Patricia became the most powerful hurricane on record, hitting the coast of Mexico with winds of 200 miles per hour. But the storm caused only property damage and no deaths as it hit a sparsely populated mountainous area.
Just this week, Tropical Storm Norma claimed three lives, including a child, after making landfall for a second time in the northwestern state of Sinaloa.
Earlier this month, two people were killed when Hurricane Lidia, an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm, hit the western states of Jalisco and Nayarit. And in August, Storm Hilary, which at one point was also a Category 4 hurricane, caused one death and damaged infrastructure when it hit Baja California.
Scientists have warned that storms are becoming more powerful as the world warms due to climate change.
Source: DN
