Mexican president slams critics in wake of deadly hurricane: ‘They circle like vultures’

Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador slammed his critics after Hurricane Otis hit Mexico’s Pacific coast as a Category 5 storm last week.

Obrador accused those who claimed to have exaggerated the hurricane’s destruction, suggesting they were providing misleading information. Last week’s storms have killed more than 30 people, destroyed homes and other structures, and flooded the cities of Acapulco and Guerrero.

“They are circling like vultures, not caring about people’s pain, trying to hurt us because there are so many deaths,” he said in a written statement. Ta. video message It was posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.

Otis stunned Mexico and forecasters after developing into a Category 5 storm with 165 mph winds last Tuesday night into Wednesday. Although it was initially expected to make landfall as a tropical cyclone, it became the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the eastern Pacific, the Associated Press reported.

Mr. Obrador later said that Security Minister Rosa Ysela Rodríguez had provided the latest death toll “without lying” and said that some critics had misinterpreted the death toll in his 24-minute video message. He suggested that he was providing information that would lead to an invitation.

Rodriguez said 39 people had been confirmed dead as of Saturday, noting that the cause of death was likely “asphyxia due to submersion.” This death toll is likely to continue to rise in the coming days as first responders continue to search the waters for potential victims and survivors.

The storm took many people by surprise, and many people went out on boats even though it was predicted to become a tropical storm. The government reported Saturday that at least 10 people were believed to be missing.