Milenio

Early Wednesday morning, the Mexican coast of Acapulco was hit by Hurricane Otis, a category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 130 miles per hour. The storm, originally classified as a Category 5, weakened as it made landfall but still caused significant damage to the area.

According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Otis was the fastest hurricane in the satellite era to reach such intensity in the eastern Pacific region. In just 12 hours, the storm’s winds increased by 80 miles per hour, leaving little time for preparation.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador urged residents in the Guerrero state to seek shelter and implemented a security plan with the Navy to keep citizens safe. However, the speed at which the hurricane intensified caught many off guard, highlighting the urgent need for preparedness and mitigation measures in the face of climate change.

The National Meteorological Service has designated a hurricane prevention and surveillance zone along the coast of Guerrero and a tropical storm zone extending to Oaxaca, urging residents to take precautions and heed the warnings of state authorities and Civil Protection.

According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, Otis was the fastest hurricane in the satellite era to reach such intensity in the eastern Pacific region. Climate change has played a significant role in the increasing intensity and frequency of these natural disasters. With the world’s oceans warming, hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons are becoming more destructive.

Otis, the fifteenth named storm of the season in the Pacific, is the latest in a string of powerful hurricanes to hit Mexico, following Hurricanes Adrian, Beatriz, Calvin, Dora, and others. As Mexico faces the devastating impact of another powerful hurricane, residents are urged to take all necessary precautions and stay informed of the latest updates and warnings from authorities.

With information from La Republica