AP Photos: Acapulco Reels from Unprecedented Destruction and Desperation in Wake of Hurricane Otis

Initial destruction was swiftly followed by a wave of human urgency.

Hurricane Otis unleashed unparalleled fury on Acapulco, the famed Mexican tourist haven, surpassing any storm previously recorded in the Eastern Pacific. Classified as a formidable Category 5 cyclone, its winds roared at a speed of 165 mph (266 kph), laying waste to nearly everything in its trajectory: expansive residential complexes, individual homes, hotels, thoroughfares, and commercial establishments.

The urban landscape was practically consumed by fallen trees and downed power line poles, affecting a population exceeding one million. Buildings and homes were left with partially or entirely stripped walls and roofs, while numerous automobiles were submerged in wreckage.

Striking in the dead of night, Hurricane Otis left survivors scrambling for essential supplies within a matter of hours. Items such as diapers, sustenance, potable water, and sanitary paper were hastily gathered by the populace.

Once a glamorous retreat for Hollywood celebrities, renowned for its nightlife, sport fishing, and cliff diving spectacles, Acapulco has in recent years catered more to domestic tourists. The city is nestled at the base of precipitous mountain ranges.

The storm confounded meteorological experts by its rapid intensification from a benign disturbance to a monstrous cyclone. According to official accounts, the death toll currently stands at 27, with an additional four individuals reported missing.

Vehicles incapacitated by the storm’s violence were seen strewn with detritus in hotel driveways as of Thursday, October 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

Structures showcasing evident damage stood still after Hurricane Otis rampaged through Acapulco, Mexico, dated Thursday, October 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

Citizens were photographed hauling goods salvaged from a grocery outlet subsequent to the hurricane’s assault on Acapulco, Mexico, dated Wednesday, October 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Individuals were seen departing with items looted from retail stores post the hurricane’s passage through Acapulco, Mexico, as of Thursday, October 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

Hospitality establishments were found cluttered with rubble following the hurricane’s devastation in Acapulco, Mexico, dated Thursday, October 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

A Mexican National Guard serviceman was observed attempting to deter individuals from removing goods such as toilet paper and legumes, taken from an indoor shopping center after Hurricane Otis tore through Acapulco, Mexico, dated Wednesday, October 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Debris blanketed a beach subsequent to Hurricane Otis’s battering of Acapulco, Mexico, as of Thursday, October 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Dislodged electrical and telecommunication poles littered the streets following the storm in Acapulco, Mexico, as of Thursday, October 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

Buildings bearing evident signs of damage stood after Hurricane Otis unleashed its wrath on Acapulco, Mexico, dated Thursday, October 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

A woman was captured acquiring diapers from a supermarket in the aftermath of the hurricane in Acapulco, Mexico, dated Wednesday, October 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

A road sign was seen toppled onto a car in the wake of Hurricane Otis’s passage through Acapulco, Mexico, dated Wednesday, October 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Hurricane Otis Aftermath in Acapulco

More about Hurricane Otis Aftermath in Acapulco

• Official Hurricane Otis Update from Meteorological Authorities
• Acapulco Tourism Bureau Statement on Hurricane Impact
• Emergency Relief and Recovery Plans for Acapulco
• Historical Overview of Hurricanes in the Eastern Pacific
• Public Health Advisory for Acapulco Residents After Hurricane Otis
• Economic Impact Assessment of Hurricane Otis on Acapulco
• Photo Gallery: Acapulco Before and After Hurricane Otis
• Guide to Emergency Preparedness for Natural Disasters
• Statistics on Natural Disasters in Mexico
• Social Impact Analysis: Human Behavior During and After Hurricanes