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| Mexico floods leave thousands trapped in Acapulco | Mexico floods leave thousands trapped in Acapulco |
| (1 day later) | |
| Thousands of tourists are still trapped in Acapulco after roads to Mexico's most famous beach resort were blocked by flash floods and landslides set off by some of the worst storms in decades. | Thousands of tourists are still trapped in Acapulco after roads to Mexico's most famous beach resort were blocked by flash floods and landslides set off by some of the worst storms in decades. |
| Across the country at least 55 people have been killed in floods after a three-day downpour, spawned by two major storms that converged on Mexico from the Pacific and the Gulf. | Across the country at least 55 people have been killed in floods after a three-day downpour, spawned by two major storms that converged on Mexico from the Pacific and the Gulf. |
| Some 40,000 tourists remain stranded in Acapulco after several roads into the city were blocked by mud, while its international airport terminal was still waist-deep in water. Two of Mexico's largest airlines were running flights from the airport, and a nearby military airbase was also used to evacuate stranded tourists. | Some 40,000 tourists remain stranded in Acapulco after several roads into the city were blocked by mud, while its international airport terminal was still waist-deep in water. Two of Mexico's largest airlines were running flights from the airport, and a nearby military airbase was also used to evacuate stranded tourists. |
| Families waited for as long as eight hours before jostling to gain a seat on commercial flights, helicopters and seven cargo planes pressed into duty. | Families waited for as long as eight hours before jostling to gain a seat on commercial flights, helicopters and seven cargo planes pressed into duty. |
| "It's probably one of the worst holidays I've ever been on," said David Jefferson-Gleed, a 28-year-old Briton from Bristol, who teaches English at a private school in Mexico City. "It wasn't really a holiday, more of an incarceration." | |
| Adding insult to injury, a few immaculately dressed families skipped the line and were escorted to private jets by soldiers, to the incredulous stares of the sweltering masses. | Adding insult to injury, a few immaculately dressed families skipped the line and were escorted to private jets by soldiers, to the incredulous stares of the sweltering masses. |
| Officials said it could take at least another two days to open the main highway to Acapulco, which was hit by more than 13 landslides from surrounding hills, and to bring food and relief supplies into the city of more than 800,000 people. | Officials said it could take at least another two days to open the main highway to Acapulco, which was hit by more than 13 landslides from surrounding hills, and to bring food and relief supplies into the city of more than 800,000 people. |
| The flooding has disrupted deliveries of supplies, piling fresh misery on a city heavily dependent on tourist spending. City officials said about 23,000 homes, mostly on Acapulco's outskirts, were without electricity and water. Stores were nearly emptied by residents who rushed to stock up on basic goods. | The flooding has disrupted deliveries of supplies, piling fresh misery on a city heavily dependent on tourist spending. City officials said about 23,000 homes, mostly on Acapulco's outskirts, were without electricity and water. Stores were nearly emptied by residents who rushed to stock up on basic goods. |
| Much of Acapulco's upscale Diamante district was flooded, and tourists were unable to take cash out of bank machines due to lack of power. Some large hotels offered stranded guests a free night of accommodation. But conditions were tough. | Much of Acapulco's upscale Diamante district was flooded, and tourists were unable to take cash out of bank machines due to lack of power. Some large hotels offered stranded guests a free night of accommodation. But conditions were tough. |
| "They've started to ration food here," said Pedro de la Torre, a 53-year-old graphic designer from Mexico City who was stranded in a hotel. "People are starting to get annoyed." Outside the hotel, guests waded to their waterlogged vehicles in the hope of recovering whatever they could. | "They've started to ration food here," said Pedro de la Torre, a 53-year-old graphic designer from Mexico City who was stranded in a hotel. "People are starting to get annoyed." Outside the hotel, guests waded to their waterlogged vehicles in the hope of recovering whatever they could. |
| "The panorama is one of devastation," said Alejandro Hernandez, a 40-year-old landscape gardener from Mexico City, holed up in a hotel with his wife and three-year-old daughter. "The hotel is no longer functioning as a business. The staff are starting to leave. They have closed the front desk, switched off the computers," he said. | "The panorama is one of devastation," said Alejandro Hernandez, a 40-year-old landscape gardener from Mexico City, holed up in a hotel with his wife and three-year-old daughter. "The hotel is no longer functioning as a business. The staff are starting to leave. They have closed the front desk, switched off the computers," he said. |
| Hundreds of people lined up outside supermarkets waiting to buy food. Shelves were empty in some other areas of Guerrero state as residents stocked up and town mayors called on the government to send emergency supplies. | Hundreds of people lined up outside supermarkets waiting to buy food. Shelves were empty in some other areas of Guerrero state as residents stocked up and town mayors called on the government to send emergency supplies. |
| The chaos began late last week when tropical storms Ingrid and Manuel converged from the Atlantic and the Pacific, drenching Mexico in intense rainfall that has hit around two thirds of the country, according to the interior ministry. | The chaos began late last week when tropical storms Ingrid and Manuel converged from the Atlantic and the Pacific, drenching Mexico in intense rainfall that has hit around two thirds of the country, according to the interior ministry. |
| Though both of the storms have dissipated, rain is still falling in much of country and more than 1 million people have so far been affected by flooding. The US National Hurricane Centre said rain caused by the remnants of Ingrid could still produce life-threatening floods and mud slides in a large part of eastern Mexico. | Though both of the storms have dissipated, rain is still falling in much of country and more than 1 million people have so far been affected by flooding. The US National Hurricane Centre said rain caused by the remnants of Ingrid could still produce life-threatening floods and mud slides in a large part of eastern Mexico. |
| • This article was amended on 19 September 2013. In the earlier version, the name of David Jefferson-Gleed was given incorrectly as David Jefferson Gled. | |
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