Mexican authorities gave the first human toll for Hurricane Otis' destruction along the country's Pacific coast Thursday: at least 27 dead and four missing.
"We regret the 27 dead," López Obrador said. The president said Wednesday night he had been told the toll was 18, but it rose early Thursday. "That's what hurts the most," he said of the deaths, noting material losses could be replaced. There seemed to be a widespread frustration with authorities. While some 10,000 military troops were deployed to the area, they lacked the tools to clean tons of mud and fallen trees from the streets. Hundreds of trucks from the government electricity company arrived in Acapulco early Wednesday, but seemed at a loss as to how to restore power, with downed electricity lines lying in feet of mud and water.
Pablo Navarro, an auto parts worker who was lodged in temporary accommodations at a beach front hotel, thought he might die in his 13th story hotel room. It took nearly all day Wednesday for authorities to partially reopen the main highway connecting Acapulco to the state capital Chilpancingo and Mexico City. The vital ground link allowed dozens of emergency vehicles, personnel and trucks carrying supplies to reach the battered port.