MEXICO HIT BY HURRICANE, 27 DEAD
A record-breaking category 5 storm has slammed into Mexico on Wednesday and so far 27 people have been left dead.
Hurricane Otis wrecked a devastating level of chaos that hampered officials and military aid in their quest to reach the coastal city of Acapulco.
Mexican Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez said there are four people missing.
Over 500,000 businesses and homes have been left without power across the country’s Guerrero state. Service is slowly but surely being restored to the affected area.
During a news conference, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador highlighted this problem.
“In all of Acapulco there is not a standing (electric) pole.”
He also said that there were more than 1,000 workers trying to rebuild the grid so water service can be restored.
Acapulco is a popular tourist destination and several truck loads of tourists have been taken to safety.
Scientists believe Otis’ rapid intensification, which gave locals very little time to prepare, is due to global warming.
CNN reports that more than 90% of warming around the globe over the past 50 years has taken place in the oceans, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In addition, El Nino is growing in the Pacific this year, driving ocean temperatures even higher.
Image credit: NBC News