It’s happening again: Acapulco, located on the Pacific coast, is under water again after the hurricane John in southern Mexico, 11 months after the hurricane Otis of maximum force 5 which devastated the famous seaside resort.
• Also read: Hurricane “Helene”, weakened, remains “extremely dangerous”, according to authorities
At least five people were killed, one in Acapulco and four in the surrounding mountains, the president said Andrés Manuel López Obrador Friday morning, taking stock of the day before.
Local media reported a higher number of victims. According to the Milenio television channel, 13 people died, including 5 children.
“We received an impressive, historic amount of torrential rain for five days and the city is underwater,” summarized the mayor, Abelina López Rodríguez.
AFP
“We are desperate,” Barbara Encinas told AFP, while queuing in front of a supermarket on Friday. “We have not yet recovered from the hurricane Otis and now we are in a situation that seems to be worse.”
“We panicked. I had a nervous breakdown two days ago, it was windy like with Otis», Adds another resident, Marta Sotelo. “It really scared us. The children became hysterical.
Many families waded through flooded and muddy streets to save their belongings, while others clung to ropes for their lives.
AFP
Local media showed images of cars being swept away by floodwaters, sometimes reaching a meter and a half in height.
Inflatable boats and even a jet ski were used to get around the streets of Acapulco, a refuge for the jet-set in the 1960s and 70s.
Heavy rains cause mudslides and landslides on this hilly coast, increasing the risks.
Acapulco’s airport was also flooded and closed after a nearby lagoon overflowed, authorities said.
AFP
The army deployed
John revived recent trauma from the hurricane Otis of maximum force 5 on October 25, which devastated the seafront and caused dozens of deaths.
The tennis courts of the Arena GNP, which host an ATP tournament every year at the start of the year, were once again submerged by water, just like after the passage ofOtis.
John hit the Pacific coast Monday evening east of Acapulco, as a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale (which has 5).
AFP
The slow-moving hurricane has been along the coast for several days, occasionally losing strength before intensifying again.
About 25,000 members of the army and national guard are in the region to help the victims, President López Obrador announced Friday.
At least 1,200 people are in emergency shelters, according to the head of state.
Friday, John was along the Mexican coast with maximum winds of around 100 km/h, threatening to cause “catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides”, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
Every year, hurricanes strike Mexico on its Pacific and Atlantic coasts, usually between May and November.
Related News :