President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, while providing updates on the situation, accused his opponents of exaggerating the extent of the disaster for political gains.

With winds reaching 165 miles per hour (266 km per hour), Hurricane Otis unleashed havoc in Acapulco on Wednesday. The city was inundated with floods, buildings suffered significant damage with roofs ripped off homes, stores, and hotels, and communication lines and transportation networks were severed.

The government has been slow in releasing information regarding casualties and injuries. The latest death toll of 39 represents a tragic increase from the previously reported 27. Additionally, four individuals remain missing due to the impact of Hurricane Otis.

President Lopez Obrador took to social media, sharing a 24-minute video to provide updates to the nation. However, a significant part of his address was dedicated to criticizing critics who, he claimed, were exploiting the situation ahead of the upcoming presidential election.

"They circle like vultures, they don't care about people's pain, they want to hurt us, for there to have been lots of deaths," President Lopez Obrador stated, referring to his opponents.

While acknowledging that some media outlets may have exaggerated the toll, President Lopez Obrador assured the public that Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez would provide an accurate update on casualties.

Rodriguez stated that the victims are believed to have drowned as a result of the Category 5 storm, with 10 people still unaccounted for.

The aftermath of Hurricane Otis has been fraught with looting as thousands of residents in Acapulco struggle to access basic necessities such as food and water. There have been mounting complaints about insufficient government aid, with concerns among officials that the number of fatalities could rise.

Carlos Diaz, a 31-year-old teacher, expressed his frustration, saying, "Help hasn't come. We're alone, there's no sign of the government," as he stood on the beach amidst debris left by the storm.

Of the deceased, 29 were men and 10 were women, according to figures provided by Guerrero, the home state of Acapulco.

Mexican authorities have deemed Hurricane Otis as the most powerful storm to ever hit Mexico's Pacific coast. The storm caught forecasters unaware as it rapidly gained strength, exceeding initial predictions.

As Acapulco strives to recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Otis, the focus remains on providing immediate aid and addressing the needs of the affected population.