Space Industry and Business News
SHAKE AND BLOW
Two weeks after Hurricane Otis, Acapulco shadow of former self
AI generated stock image
Two weeks after Hurricane Otis, Acapulco shadow of former self
By Samir Tounsi
Acapulco, Mexico (AFP) Nov 8, 2023

Families search for missing relatives as shops and bars gradually reopen -- two weeks after a devastating hurricane, Mexico's beachside city of Acapulco is struggling to regain a semblance of normality.

A few bathers soak up the sun on Manzanillo beach, near residential buildings whose windows were smashed by winds that reached 165 miles (270 kilometers) per hour.

At the feet of the 27-floor Marena residence in the exclusive Punta Diamante district, mattresses and cushions lie amid debris on the beach.

Inspired by the shape of a ship's sail filled with wind, its luxury apartments once sold for more than one and a half million dollars each, but they have been left uninhabitable by the fury of Otis.

Many businesses have not only been damaged but also looted.

Schools remain closed until further notice.

In Acapulco Bay, navy divers search for missing people among destroyed or submerged yachts.

At least 48 were killed and more than 30 are still unaccounted for after Hurricane Otis came ashore in the early hours of October 25 as a scale-topping category 5 storm, according to authorities.

Relatives of four crew members from the Litos yacht who disappeared reunite by the sea for the first time.

"We know nothing. I think the government is hiding the truth from us," Saul Parra says next to a missing persons poster for his brother Fernando.

"It's time to raise our voice. Time is passing. If we have a chance of finding them alive, it's slipping through our hands," he adds.

- Aid efforts -

On the city's main beachfront avenue, dozens of residents queue for a free dish of meat and rice.

"Every day we prepare around 4,000 meals," says Brian Chavez, 22, a volunteer for World Central Kitchen, an organization that provides food during humanitarian crises.

Elsewhere, the navy distributes toilet paper -- part of a wider aid effort by Mexico's authorities.

A few meters away, a taco restaurant has resumed service.

The kebab-style meat rotates on a spit as Mexican music plays in the background.

On Monday, a major supermarket near the beach reopened its doors, allowing customers to enter in groups of 10, under the control of the army.

"I'm very happy to be able to obtain basic necessities," says Yameli, a mother who came with her two daughters.

"We bought tomatoes, vegetables, ham, some fruit juice. Some products were missing, like tuna and bread," she says.

In the middle-class Progreso district, away from the seafront, trash cans pile up on the street in the humid heat.

"It's starting to stink. They need to be collected urgently" says resident Laura Salvide, who fears the insanitary conditions will cause outbreaks of disease.

A lack of drinking water is another problem, she complains.

A few streets away, garbage collectors are at work.

- Guarding neighborhoods -

Tangled power lines hang from pylons in the city, ripped down by the hurricane.

Teams from the state electricity company have been hard at work for the past fortnight repairing damage.

Even so, part of Acapulco is still plunged into darkness after nightfall, including Campeche Street, where residents have made barricades with wooden pallets and corrugated metal sheets.

"We do it for our safety," says Alfredo Villalobos.

Some residents in the city have even been seen guarding their districts with machetes and baseball bats.

On Monday morning, at the other end of Campeche Street, a decapitated body was found, according to an AFP photographer.

Suspicion quickly fell on criminal gangs who have been settling scores for years in the region, tarnishing Acapulco's fun-loving reputation.

Down by beach, a night-time bar pumps out loud music on an unlit street.

Rubble is still piled up in front of the establishment.

The city's nightlife is gradually reawakening, but it is not the same as before Otis.

"We have a really reduced menu," says Andres Boleo.

He says he makes a round trip of hundreds of miles (kilometers) to collect supplies for his snack bar.

Despite the difficulties, Boleo is sure of one thing: "Acapulco will always be Acapulco."

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
When the Earth Quakes
A world of storm and tempest

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
SHAKE AND BLOW
'I try to be strong': Filipino typhoon survivors on starting again
Tacloban, Philippines (AFP) Nov 7, 2023
A decade after Super Typhoon Haiyan hit the central Philippines and left more than 7,000 people dead or missing, survivors are preparing to commemorate the disaster. Many of them lost partners, children, siblings, parents and friends in one of the most powerful storms on record. Ahead of the 10th anniversary of Haiyan, AFP spoke to three people about how they rebuilt their lives after the tragedy. - 'I try to be strong' - Juvilyn Tanega still keeps the Boy Scouts ID card that belong ... read more

SHAKE AND BLOW
Nations start negotiations over global plastics treaty

'Call of Duty', the stalwart video game veteran, turns 20

EU agrees plan to secure raw materials supply

Planet Labs advances satellite communication with NASA CSP ground tests

SHAKE AND BLOW
Northrop Grumman Finalizes Key Trials for Arctic Communications Satellites

Lockheed Martin Showcases Hybrid 5G-Tactical Network in Multi-Domain Field Test

SDA Awards Northrop Grumman $732 Million Satellite Contract

University of Kansas wins $5M NSF grant to help secure 5G for U.S. Military

SHAKE AND BLOW
SHAKE AND BLOW
PASSport project testing

Zephr raises $3.5M to bring next-gen GPS to major industries

Satnav test on remote island lab

Trimble and Kyivstar to provide GNSS correction services in Ukraine

SHAKE AND BLOW
Advancing Technology for Aeronautics

AFRL announces Airlift Challenge, AI-Based Planning Competition

NASA completes key step in aviation safety research

China blasts 'malicious' Canada air patrol after latest intercept

SHAKE AND BLOW
First 2D semiconductor with 1000 transistors developed at EPFL Switzerland

Atomic dance gives rise to a magnet

TU Delft researchers discover new ultra strong material for microchip sensors

A superatomic semiconductor sets a speed record

SHAKE AND BLOW
China releases methane control plan with no reduction target

TelePIX and Thrusters Unlimited to sell Geo-Info solutions across Latin America and Caribbean

2023 Ozone Hole Ranks 16th Largest, NASA and NOAA Researchers Find

China places multipurpose satellite into space

SHAKE AND BLOW
Green 'Marianne' brings climate crisis to French letterboxes

Campaigners demand Thailand act on air pollution

Scientists caution against a reliance on mechanical devices to clear water bodies of plastic

'Like breathing poison': Delhi children hardest hit by smog

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.