Residents of Acapulco, Mexico are facing an urgent public health crisis in the aftermath of Hurricane Otis, which struck the Pacific Coast and devastated much of the city. Miles away from the luxury resorts and beachfront tourist areas, the streets of downtown Acapulco are now lined with towering hills of garbage bags filled with rotting food and debris, creating a hazardous environment for residents.

Volunteer firefighters from distant states have been working tirelessly to clear the waste, battling swarms of cockroaches as they go. Elizabeth Del Valle, a 43-year-old resident, expressed her concerns about the mountains of trash blocking the streets surrounding her home. She worries about the lack of face masks to protect themselves from the smell and potential infections caused by the garbage.

Local business groups have called on federal and state officials to declare a sanitary emergency due to the accumulation of garbage, construction material, lack of potable water, and the presence of insects and harmful fauna, including human remains. The uncollected garbage is believed to be linked to various ailments, including stomach infections, diarrhea, and skin rashes, which people have been complaining about since the storm hit.

In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Otis, authorities prioritized clearing debris and restoring power to the tourist resort areas. Some hotels in those areas have since reopened. However, residents outside the beachfront neighborhoods now face the difficult task of navigating through piles of trash and debris, making it challenging to reach hospitals and health centers.

While the authorities are providing vital resources such as water and power to the residents, federal and local officials are emphasizing the need to prioritize the clearing of trash. The city's mayor estimates that a staggering 666,000 tons of garbage are piled across Acapulco, far exceeding the usual daily collection of 700 to 800 tons.

Thousands of troops have been deployed to Acapulco to assist in the recovery efforts, but the scale of the garbage problem poses a significant challenge. As the city grapples with immediate needs, such as finding missing people and restoring basic services, officials are sounding the alarm about the long-term health consequences of the hurricane.

The residents of Acapulco desperately need assistance in clearing the trash and debris that has taken over their city. Without swift action, the public health crisis could worsen, leading to further outbreaks of disease and a prolonged recovery process. The situation in Acapulco serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by communities in the aftermath of natural disasters.