Hurricane Otis death toll rises again nearly a week after nightmare storm slammed into Mexico
In a news release on Tuesday, government officials announced the death toll had increased again, this time to 46.
Video shows how guests survived Hurricane Otis' wrath at an Acapulco resort
Hurricane Otis became the strongest landfalling cyclone along Mexico’s Pacific coastline. The hurricane had sustained winds around 165 mph, making it Category 5 cyclone when it impacted areas around Acapulco.
ACAPULCO, Mexico - Recovery operations are continuing along Mexico’s Pacific coast nearly one week after Hurricane Otis caused catastrophic damage when it made landfall south of the popular tourist destination Acapulco, killing and injuring dozens of people.
In a news release on Tuesday, government officials announced the death toll had increased again, this time to 46. They also noted that 58 people were still missing.
![TOPSHOT - Aerial view of damages caused by the passage of Hurricane Otis in Puerto Marques, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 28, 2023. The death toll from an extraordinarily powerful hurricane that blasted the Mexican resort city of Acapulco rose Saturday to 39, the Mexican government said. (Photo by Rodrigo OROPEZA / AFP) (Photo by RODRIGO OROPEZA/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 1 of 22TOPSHOT - Aerial view of damages caused by the passage of Hurricane Otis in Puerto Marques, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 28, 2023. The death toll from an extraordinarily powerful hurricane that blasted the Mexican resort city of Acapulco rose Saturday to 39, the Mexican government said. (Photo by Rodrigo OROPEZA / AFP) (Photo by RODRIGO OROPEZA/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![View of damages caused by the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 28, 2023. The death toll from an extraordinarily powerful hurricane that blasted the Mexican resort city of Acapulco rose Saturday to 39, the Mexican government said (Photo by Rodrigo OROPEZA / AFP) (Photo by RODRIGO OROPEZA/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 2 of 22View of damages caused by the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 28, 2023. The death toll from an extraordinarily powerful hurricane that blasted the Mexican resort city of Acapulco rose Saturday to 39, the Mexican government said (Photo by Rodrigo OROPEZA / AFP) (Photo by RODRIGO OROPEZA/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![TOPSHOT - View of damages caused by the passage of Hurricane Otis in Puerto Marques, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 28, 2023. The death toll from an extraordinarily powerful hurricane that blasted the Mexican resort city of Acapulco rose Saturday to 39, the Mexican government said. (Photo by Rodrigo OROPEZA / AFP) (Photo by RODRIGO OROPEZA/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 3 of 22TOPSHOT - View of damages caused by the passage of Hurricane Otis in Puerto Marques, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 28, 2023. The death toll from an extraordinarily powerful hurricane that blasted the Mexican resort city of Acapulco rose Saturday to 39, the Mexican government said. (Photo by Rodrigo OROPEZA / AFP) (Photo by RODRIGO OROPEZA/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![Paula Hernandez stands at a destroyed house after the passage of Hurricante Otis in Puerto Marques, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 27, 2023. The death toll from an extraordinarily powerful hurricane that blasted the Mexican resort city of Acapulco rose Saturday to 39, the Mexican government said. (Photo by Rodrigo OROPEZA / AFP) (Photo by RODRIGO OROPEZA/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 4 of 22Paula Hernandez stands at a destroyed house after the passage of Hurricante Otis in Puerto Marques, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 27, 2023. The death toll from an extraordinarily powerful hurricane that blasted the Mexican resort city of Acapulco rose Saturday to 39, the Mexican government said. (Photo by Rodrigo OROPEZA / AFP) (Photo by RODRIGO OROPEZA/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![View of damages caused by the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 28, 2023. The death toll from an extraordinarily powerful hurricane that blasted the Mexican resort city of Acapulco rose Saturday to 39, the Mexican government said (Photo by Rodrigo OROPEZA / AFP) (Photo by RODRIGO OROPEZA/AFP via Getty Images)]()
Image 5 of 22View of damages caused by the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 28, 2023. The death toll from an extraordinarily powerful hurricane that blasted the Mexican resort city of Acapulco rose Saturday to 39, the Mexican government said (Photo by Rodrigo OROPEZA / AFP) (Photo by RODRIGO OROPEZA/AFP via Getty Images) ( )
![Residents walk past debris in the aftermath of hurricane Otis]()
Image 6 of 22Residents walk past debris in the aftermath of hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 27, 2023. Airlines began to evacuate tourists from Mexico's beachside city of Acapulco on Friday after a scale-topping Category 5 hurricane left a trail of destruction and at least 27 people dead, authorities said on October 27, 2023. (Photo by RODRIGO OROPEZA / AFP)
![View of a building partially destroyed after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 26, 2023.]()
Image 7 of 22View of a building partially destroyed after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 26, 2023. (RODRIGO OROPEZA/AFP)
![Air travelers sleep on luggage carousel in Acapulco.]()
Image 8 of 22Air travelers sleep on luggage carousel in Acapulco. (Nathalia Martinez via Storyful)
![Buildings torn to shreds after Otis.]()
Image 9 of 22Buildings torn to shreds after Otis. (Nathalia Martinez via Storyful)
![A woman walks among the debris left after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 26, 2023.]()
Image 10 of 22A woman walks among the debris left after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 26, 2023. (RODRIGO OROPEZA/AFP)
![Mexico Otis]()
Image 11 of 22View of damages following the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 26, 2023. Hurricane Otis killed at least 27 people as it lashed Mexico's beach resort city of Acapulco as a scale-topping category 5 storm, officials said Thursday, in what residents called a "total disaster." (RODRIGO OROPEZA / AFP)
![Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador looks out of the window as the vehicle transporting his is stuck in mud during a visit to the Kilometro 42 community, near Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, after the passage of Hurricane Otis, on October 25, 2023.]()
Image 12 of 22Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador looks out of the window as the vehicle transporting his is stuck in mud during a visit to the Kilometro 42 community, near Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, after the passage of Hurricane Otis, on October 25, 2023. Mexican authorities rushed to send emergency aid, restore communications and assess damage in the Pacific beach resort of Acapulco on Wednesday after a powerful hurricane left a trail of destruction and tourists stranded. (RODRIGO OROPEZA/AFP)
![A looter carries a shopping cart full of goods stolen from a supermarket after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 25, 2023.]()
Image 13 of 22A looter carries a shopping cart full of goods stolen from a supermarket after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 25, 2023. (FRANCISCO ROBLES/AFP)
![View of the damage caused after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 25, 2023.]()
Image 14 of 22View of the damage caused after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 25, 2023. (FRANCISCO ROBLES/AFP)
![View of the damage caused after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico on October 25, 2023.]()
Image 15 of 22View of the damage caused after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero state, Mexico on October 25, 2023. (FRANCISCO ROBLES/AFP)
![View of the damage caused after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 25, 2023.]()
Image 16 of 22View of the damage caused after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 25, 2023. (FRANCISCO ROBLES/AFP)
![View of the damage caused after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 25, 2023.]()
Image 17 of 22View of the damage caused after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 25, 2023. (FRANCISCO ROBLES/AFP)
![View of the damage caused after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 25, 2023.]()
Image 18 of 22View of the damage caused after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 25, 2023. (FRANCISCO ROBLES/AFP)
![View of the damage caused after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 25, 2023.]()
Image 19 of 22View of the damage caused after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 25, 2023. (FRANCISCO ROBLES/AFP)
![View of the damage caused after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 25, 2023.]()
Image 20 of 22View of the damage caused after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 25, 2023. (FRANCISCO ROBLES/AFP)
![View of the damage caused after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 25, 2023.]()
Image 21 of 22View of the damage caused after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 25, 2023. (FRANCISCO ROBLES/AFP)
![View of the damage caused after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 25, 2023.]()
Image 22 of 22View of the damage caused after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 25, 2023. (FRANCISCO ROBLES/AFP)
SEE HURRICANE OTIS' WIDESPREAD DAMAGE TO ACAPULCO, MEXICO THROUGH SATELLITE IMAGES
Hurricane Otis leaves behind 'nightmare scenario'
View of the damage caused after the passage of Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on October 25, 2023.
(FRANCISCO ROBLES/AFP / Getty Images)
The nightmare for more than 1 million Mexicans living in and around Acapulco began last Tuesday when Hurricane Otis rapidly intensified before its historic landfall during the early-morning hours of Wednesday, Oct. 25.
Within 24 hours, the storm’s winds had increased by 115 mph, leaving very little time for people to prepare for the monster storm or for officials to stage resources ahead of landfall.
Hurricane Otis was a monster Category 5 hurricane at the time of landfall with winds of 165 mph.
Otis is now the strongest hurricane to make landfall along Mexico’s Pacific coast and the first Category 5 hurricane from the Eastern Pacific to make landfall.
BRYAN NORCROSS: HURRICANES OTIS AND TAMMY BOTH SURPRISINGLY AND SUDDENLY INTENSIFY
Listen to the wind howl as Otis tears through Acapulco, Mexico
Hurricane Otis made landfall near Acapulco, Mexico, as a Category 5 storm early on Wednesday, bringing maximum sustained winds of up to 165 mph. Listen to the winds as the powerful storm rock Mundo Imperial Hotel.
The disastrous winds from Hurricane Otis caused widespread destruction, with government officials saying 80% of Acapulco’s hotels sustained some type of storm damage.
Hospitals in Acapulco were also affected, with officials saying 120 hospitals and clinics received some sort of damage from the historic storm.
More than 10,000 utility poles were destroyed, which knocked out power and communications across the region. Officials said 37 transmission lines, 26 electrical substations and a generating plant were also heavily damaged and knocked out of service.
Relief efforts underway across southwest Mexico after Hurricane Otis
Hurricane Otis was the strongest storm system ever to impact Mexico's Pacific coastline. Dozens were killed during the Category 5 storm's strike on Acapulco.
Crews have been working hard to make repairs, however. Officials said Sunday that the damaged plant was restored to 100%, as well as several substations and transmission lines.
The Mexican Red Cross is now in the process of delivering 75 tons of humanitarian aid to those who have been affected by the disaster, and more than 1,600 people remain in shelters in both Acapulco and Coyuca de Benítez.