powerful Hurricane Otis made landfall near Acapulco

Hurricane Otis made landfall near Acapulco (Mexico) on Wednesday, October 25, after being upgraded to category 5 – the highest level – by the American National Hurricane Center (NHC). The latter warned that the phenomenon could cause “catastrophic damage” and evokes winds that can blow up to 270 km/hour. The cyclone, however, will weaken “quickly” upon reaching land, again according to this source.

Soldiers had already deployed in anticipation and schools were closed on orders from the local government in Guerrero state. In Acapulco, hotels are 50% full and the government has prepared places in hostels. Governor Evelyn Salgado insisted on the importance of coordination between the authorities and the armed forces to “the well-being of residents and avoiding risks”. “Take shelter, stay in safe places: far from rivers, streams, ravines and be vigilant”had also warned Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, in a message posted on the social network X.

Acapulco was hit on October 9, 1997 by Hurricane Paulina, which made landfall as a category 4. Paulina killed more than 200 people, one of the most serious natural disasters for Mexico outside of the earthquake. Last week, Hurricane Norma killed three people a little further north in the state of Sinaloa. Norma made landfall twice, first in the Baja California peninsula, then in the state of Sinaloa.

Caught between the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico is exposed to hurricanes during the season which runs from May to October-November. A dozen depressions per year are likely to turn into more or less devastating hurricanes depending on their point of entry. The most powerful ever recorded, Patricia, in October 2015, with winds of 325 km/h, however, only caused material damage because it entered the territory through an uninhabited mountainous area.