Hurricane Otis, a formidable Category 5 storm, made its arrival on Wednesday, striking the vicinity of Acapulco, Mexico, along the nation's southern coast. This powerful storm presents the potential for "catastrophic damage," as emphasized by the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).
As it approached Acapulco, the hurricane unleashed its fury, boasting maximum sustained winds of approximately 165 mph (270 km/h) along with heavy precipitation, according to the NHC. The implications of this storm are profound, with the prospect of a deluge that could reach up to 20 inches (51 cm) in specific regions of Guerrero and Oaxaca. This torrential rain brings the unsettling potential for flash floods and mudslides, intensifying the storm's gravity.
Additionally, the hurricane poses the looming threat of a "potentially catastrophic" storm surge. This surge, combined with the "life-threatening" surf and rip current conditions, is a source of considerable concern for the authorities.
CONAGUA, Mexico's national water agency, issued a stern warning of a surf that could reach six to eight meters in height off the coast of Guerrero state, where the renowned beach resort of Acapulco is situated, and also off parts of Oaxaca state.
By 9 pm on Tuesday (0300 GMT), Hurricane Otis was approximately 55 miles to the south-southeast of Acapulco, with maximum sustained winds recorded at 160 mph (257 km/h), according to the NHC in Miami.
In Guerrero, authorities are taking proactive measures, making preparations for storm shelters, and mobilizing the National Guard to facilitate rescue operations and evacuations.
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador communicated on social media that the defense ministry had set its disaster plan in motion in anticipation of the impending storm's arrival. In Acapulco, soldiers were actively patrolling the beaches, which had begun to see a decline in visitors.
As a precaution, schools across Guerrero chose to cancel classes for Wednesday, aligning with the safety measures enacted in response to Hurricane Otis by Governor Evelyn Salgado, as conveyed through her social media channels.
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