Hurricane Otis - Oct 2023

A new tropical cyclone named Otis formed over the eastern North Pacific Ocean on 22 October and started moving north toward southern Mexico as a tropical storm, strengthening and becoming a hurricane on 24 October in the evening (UTC). Otis made landfall over the area of the coastal City of Acapulco, central Guerrero State, southern Mexico on 25 October around 6.25 UTC, with maximum sustained winds of 270 km/h (Cat. 5 Hurricane). Otis is forecast to continue northwestward inland over the central-western Guerrero State on 25-26 October, weakening and becoming a tropical storm. (ECHO, 25 Oct 2023)

Otis made landfall over the area of the coastal City of Acapulco, central Guerrero State, southern Mexico on 25 October around 6.25 UTC, with maximum sustained winds of 270 km/h (Cat. 5 Hurricane). According to NOAA, there are no hurricanes on record even close to this intensity for this part of Mexico. After the landfall, Otis continued northwestward over the central-western Guerrero State on 25 October, weakening and becoming a tropical storm. After that, it became a tropical depression and dissipated over eastern Michoacan State on 25 October in the evening (UTC). Very heavy rainfall, strong winds and storm surges associated with the passage of Otis, caused floods and landslides that have resulted in evacuations and severe damage. WHO PAHO and national authorities report, as of 26 October, 34,522 evacuated families in 631 temporary shelters across the affected area. (ECHO, 26 Oct 2023)

The Ministry of Health reports 120 health facilities with some type of damage. Some 80 per cent of hotel infrastructure suffered considerable damage. Assessments of damage to critical infrastructure and access to basic services continue, with 273,844 homes so far reported to be affected to some degree. The Ministry of Welfare has deployed 1,678 evaluators in Acapulco and Coyuca de Benítez, and has so far conducted 20,971 surveys of homes, crops and livestock, as well as small and medium-sized businesses in rural and urban areas. The Government of Guerrero reports 5 temporary shelters with 278 people in Acapulco and 7 temporary shelters with 1,342 people in Coyuca de Benítez. There is still no estimated number of people internally displaced by the hurricane. [...] According to UNICEF, more than 296,000 children and adolescents in the five most affected municipalities are in need of humanitarian assistance and 177,804 students have been affected by the closure of basic education schools in these five municipalities. (OCHA, 01 Nov 2023)

On 31 October 2023, the Government of Mexico published an update on the effects of the passage of Hurricane Otis through the State of Guerrero. There are 58 people reported as missing (52 increase since the 29 October report) and 46 deaths have been reported. Additionally, medical care has been provided for 1,248 instances and there were 293 hospital transfers made. (PAHO, 02 Nov 2023)

As of 5 November, the state government of Guerrero reports 47 people dead (2 more than reported on 31 October) and 48 people still missing. In the municipalities of Acapulco de Juárez and Coyuca de Benítez, 1,488 people are in 12 temporary shelters. UNICEF estimates that 1.07 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, including 323,000 children. (OCHA, 07 Nov 2023)

According to Mexican authorities, as of 8 November, 47 people were left dead, 32 people are unaccounted for and 3,821 people have been evacuated by commercial airlines. [...] According to preliminary reports, approximately 273,844 homes have been affected, including 50,000 completely destroyed. (OCHA, 11 Nov 2023)

IFRC estimates that a total of 928,252 people were exposed to Hurricane Otis, impacting 848,647 in Acapulco and 79,605 in Coyuca de Benítez. According to the Guerrero State Attorney General's Office, there are 48 people dead and 26 people still missing.

Basic services in Acapulco are being progressively re-established. Two water treatment plants in the municipality of Coyuca de Benítez have cumulatively supplied 115,900 litres of water. [...] Media reports indicate that the Acapulco Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism estimates that 63,000 economic units of tourism services in the city will be affected, representing the loss of approximately 180,000 jobs. (OCHA, 16 Nov 2023)

Whilst there are no overall cost estimates for the impact of the hurricane available at time of writing, private market insured losses from Hurricane Otis were estimated to be between $2.5bn and $4.5bn. Just using this amount pertaining to private assets equates to over $35 for each of Mexico’s over 127 million inhabitants; dividing the sum just amongst those affected by the hurricane (a little over 1% of the population) means individual average economic costs around $300, a significant sum in a country where the average income is a little over $12,000 annually. The economic impact in the private sector could have been even bigger but some buildings were not significantly damaged. However, since many were designed to withstand earthquakes, they were heavily affected by the hurricane. Only a few hotels and related tourism infrastructure have re-opened since the storm, meaning vital tourism revenue is foregone, adding to the long-term economic impacts. (Christian Aid, 27 Dec 2023)

Overall losses are estimated at US$ 12 billion, and insured losses at around US$ 4 billion due to the high concentration of hotels in the city. It was the year’s third-costliest loss in terms of overall losses. (Munich Re, 09 Jan 2024)

According to official reports, drinking water services have been re-established in Acapulco and Coyuca de Benítez. However, UNICEF’s field reports have located peripheral communities with persistent WASH needs. Public lighting service was re-established in Acapulco on 18 December 2023, and in Coyuca de Benítez in the second week of January 2024.

In mid-January 2024, the Guerrero Ministry of Education reported that 917 schools had resumed classes, out of 1,509. Given the lack of precise information on which schools have re-opened and which remain closed, there is no estimate on the number of children remaining out of school.

Main humanitarian needs for children persist. Although hospitals and medical units are functioning, gaps on availability of medicines, other medical supplies and staff remain. The prevalence of dengue remains of concern, given the need of more adequate preventive and response interventions. UNICEF's mobile medical unit continues to detect cases of malnutrition among children. In terms of education, a number of schools still have cleaning needs. In those cases, where schools have opened, material is still needed including books, uniforms, furniture, etc. As reported by staff who have visited social assistance centers, concerns remain regarding the psychological impact of the disaster on affected children. The mid/long term effects of the extended disruption of education need to be assessed. (UNICEF, 06 Feb 2024)