ACAPULCO
Tropical storm "Manuel" has hit the Pacific Coast in Mexico, particularly Acapulco, causing damage to the city’s road network and the airport.
“At the moment, it is not possible to either enter or leave the city and only military operations are allowed at the airport,” reported Alessandro Torchio, general manager of Condor Verde Travel, a tour operator and DMC. “Today rains stopped and the storm has dissipated, while visitors are being transferred to Mexico City in planes of the Mexican Army or chartered by commercial carriers. Local authorities expect to have the airport fully operative by tomorrow morning.”
The death toll has risen to 47 in the region, with approximately 40,000 tourists estimated to be stuck in the resort city. Mexican officials are hopeful that the highway system will be operational again on Wednesday.
UPDATE: As of Wednesday morning Interior Secretary Miguel Angel Osorio Chong said 57 storm-related deaths had occurred. Federal officials have said it could take at least another two days to open the main highway between Mexico and Acapulco and bring food and relief supplies into the city.
