Hurricane Otis Wreaks Havoc in Acapulco, Leaving 27 Dead and Four Missing

The Mexican government disclosed on Thursday that Hurricane Otis, one of the most potent storms to assault the nation, resulted in at least 27 fatalities as it severely impacted the beach haven of Acapulco, inducing damages estimated to be in the billions. 

The hurricane, which escalated unexpectedly along the Pacific shore, made landfall on Wednesday as a Category 5 tempest, inundating roads, tearing roofs from residences and hotels, engulfing vehicles, and severing communication, road, and air links, hence leaving a swath of destruction across Acapulco, a bustling city with nearly 900,000 inhabitants.

The storm, with its ferocious winds reaching 165 miles per hour (266 kph), caused a disastrous scenario in Acapulco, as articulated by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador during a press briefing in Mexico City where he assessed the storm's devastation. 

The calamity also led to four individuals being reported missing. The immense force of Otis uprooted large trees, scattered debris across the city, swamped medical facilities necessitating the evacuation of hundreds of patients to more secure locations.