Acapulco After Hurricane Otis: Recovery Struggles and the Call for More Aid

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When Hurricane Otis struck, Acapulco endured the strongest storm in history, leaving widespread destruction and a government response that drew sharp criticism for delays in aid to more than 250,000 victims.

Acapulco’s streets, a top tourist destination in Mexico, remain crowded with debris. Many waterfront buildings stand as skeletal reminders of the disaster, while hillside homes were buried in mud. Families still search for loved ones who vanished during the ferocity of the night or were buried beneath the rubble.

Local, state, and federal authorities have been mobilized. They are working to help Acapulco recover, and residents are grateful for the effort, yet they say more support is needed.

We destroyed Acapulco, and it affected everyone. Those with abundance, those who had little, and those in between. The damage touched all corners of the city, making relief efforts more complex, said Jesús Zamora, a restaurant owner and head of infrastructure for the Tourist Advisory Council, in an interview with EFE.

Speaking from one of his restaurants on Acapulco Beach, which suffered less damage than other areas, Zamora said he feels a mix of relief and renewed concern as he steps back into the streets and confronts the scale of recovery ahead.

When he goes outside, sadness returns. The city’s scars are clear, and the path back to normal life remains long.

Landslides, mud, and garbage piling up in higher neighborhoods have displaced many residents who lost homes atop the hills. The pace of recovery is slow because machines operate gradually and crews must move between sites across the city.

In the wake of the disaster, fatalities and disappearances forced families into grief. Official figures show dozens of deaths and dozens more missing.

On a visit to Acapulco, the national president promised rapid rebuilding in the weeks that followed while residents protested the perceived slow response and the ongoing disappearance of missing persons.

During a morning briefing, the president outlined plans to rebuild approximately 250,000 homes and to deliver rehabilitated housing painted in preferred colors as a sign of renewal.

Questions about the official death toll and the magnitude of the disaster persisted. Local authorities highlighted the scope of the impact on Acapulco and nearby Coyuca de Benítez, while critics accused opponents of spreading misinformation about the number of casualties.

Fitch estimated catastrophic losses from the hurricane at billions of dollars, and chambers of commerce outlined reconstruction budgets reaching into the hundreds of billions of pesos.

Nevertheless, the government defended its budget, projecting substantial funds for compensation and social support in the coming period.

Counts and items

So far the government has delivered thousands of packages containing household goods from an initial census aimed at identifying the needs of affected families. Officials reported widespread distribution of pantry staples and essential items, along with monetary assistance for households and commercial properties.

Business leaders in the tourism sector note that service providers have been counted in the relief process but have yet to receive financial aid. In local neighborhoods, residents report deliveries of mattresses, stoves, cookware sets, and other essentials guided by welfare assessments.

Water scarcity remains a critical challenge in Acapulco and surrounding areas. The ongoing presence of garbage on streets and the continued collapse of some houses have contributed to health concerns among residents.

Contrary to some public statements, local voices emphasized that the city would not be fully liberated from the impacts until later in the year. Tourism remains a vital source of income for many residents, and there is a strong desire for federal support to accelerate the return to business activity.

Small business owners and hospitality workers described the hardship of a stalled recovery as the peak travel season approached. They urged authorities to ensure restoration of services so that visitors would return and the local economy could rebound.

Overall, the message from Acapulco’s residents is clear: faster restoration of homes and businesses, reliable access to water, and a clear plan for the months ahead will determine how quickly the city regains its footing and reopens to visitors and residents alike. The road to full recovery remains challenging, but the city continues to mobilize, with communities pulling together to rebuild and move forward.

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