Access to battered Mexico resort of Acapulco restricted as Hurricane Otis triggers mudslides

(25 Oct 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Acapulco, Mexico - 25 October 2023
1. Road blocked by mudslides, vehicle carrying sign reading (Spanish) "Caution. Landslide."
2. Various of fallen trees blocking roads

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Albany, New York, United States - 25 October 2023
++VIDEO CALL INTERVIEW++
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Kristen Corbosiero, University of Albany Hurricane Expert:
"There were some models that were predicting a slight intensification before landfall, but nothing obviously to the extent that was seen. And, you know, I think we can’t really blame the model since this was a, you know, broke all records in terms of rapid intensification. But, you know, both the models and the National Hurricane Center were certainly not expecting this kind of development."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Acapulco, Mexico - 25 October 2023
4. Various of long line of vehicles unable to pass
5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Flor Campos, domestic worker:
"We have been stuck here since three in the morning with wind, rain, and landslides that can still be heard. For example, on this side over there, you can hear it, as loud river."
6. Various of road workers looking at debris blocking road
7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Julio Díaz, medical coordinator:
"There is a landslide in this section, spanning both lanes. Three landslides are affecting both lanes. We will ask for support because there is no reception at this time."
8. Fallen trees blocking road
9. Various of people walking over debris blocking road
10. Various of fallen trees blocking road
STORYLINE:
Hurricane Otis ripped through Mexico’s southern Pacific coast as a powerful Category 5 storm early Wednesday.

Otis strengthened rapidly, going from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in 12 hours Tuesday.

Residents of Guerrero’s coast scrambled to prepare, but the storm’s sudden intensity appeared to catch many off guard.

“There were some models that were predicting a slight intensification before landfall, but nothing obviously to the extent that was seen,” said Kristen Corbosiero, a hurricane expert from the University of Albany.

“Both the models and the National Hurricane Center were certainly not expecting this kind of development.” she said.

The scenes of destruction in Acapulco were so bad that women, children, and entire families began climbing over landslides of mud, shattered tree trunks, and rocks that blocked the main highway leading out of the city.

Emergency workers from the highway department helped women wade through the thigh debris.

Flor Campos, a domestic worker from San Luis Acatlan, had struggled more than an hour through the mud, taking off her shoes to avoid losing them in the muck.

It was a daunting escape, but people were desperate to escape Acapulco.

"We have been stuck here since three in the morning with wind, rain, landslides that can still be heard.” said Campos.

Without the heavy machinery needed to clear the debris, highway workers looked on helplessly, warning people the roadway would give way at any time as the ground beneath the highway liquified.

By mid-morning, Otis had weakened to a strong Category 2 storm and was about 88 miles (140 kilometers) north-northwest of Acapulco with its maximum sustained winds decreasing to 80 mph (130 kph) and moving at 10 mph (17 kph).

The storm’s center was expected to move farther inland over southern Mexico and dissipate by Wednesday night.

AP Video by Gerardo Carrillo

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