The famous Mexican port of Acapulco has experienced the worst hurricane of its lifetime and the crisis is only beginning.

On Tuesday 24th of October 2023, Acapulqueños witnessed how hurricane OTIS took over the bay and destroyed the city of Acapulco. There is no electricity, no access to water, not a single supermarket standing, and no promising federal response.

Over 1 million residents from Acapulco and surrounding areas have no roof over their heads, no access to indispensable necessities like water and food, no internet or telecommunication services and a city that has been completely destroyed. Over 80% of Acapulco’s hotels have been lost reflecting not only the financial loss the tourist destination is facing, but the fact that civilians have also lost their homes and many have lost their lives.

IT WAS REPORTED THAT ELECTRICITY WILL BE COMPLETELY RESTORED IN THE CITY BY JANUARY 2024.

Over 30 hours were Acapulqueños without access to phone calls and mobile services to communicate out of state with family members. Local and Federal authorities were not only careless with their prolonged response, but have yet to develop a substantial plan to help the community. Having reported only 24 missing people by Thursday morning, social media has spread thousands of posts with out-of-state family members and friends reporting their loved ones missing. Yet, the magnitude of the disaster is beyond what government authorities have recognized. Acapulco has experienced total loss of resources and infrastructure to say the least, leaving bodies in the streets and an environment where every habitant has to survive as a state of nature.

Only recently were phone services restored in few areas of the port, while electricity continues to be on its path of restoration.

WITHOUT WATER AND WITHOUT POWER, THE PROBABILITY OF DENGUE AND OTHER ILLNESSES WILL INCREASE. PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY REPORTED THAT THE STREETS “SMELL LIKE DEATH” BECAUSE BODIES HAVE YET TO BE TAKEN OFF THE STREETS AND THE DAMAGE LEFT MANY PEOPLE TRAPPED.

We are taking donations through the Civil Society Organization “Con Tu Ayuda” to help restore Acapulco and bring aid to the community. All support will be appreciated!