In the coastal city of Acapulco, Mexico, which has been devastated by Hurricane Otis, Nelly Valadez has set up an altar in her home to honor her husband and mother, who both died of cancer. The hurricane has caused significant damage, resulting in around 100 deaths or missing persons, destroyed homes, and disrupted communication. Valadez, like many others in the city, is facing unemployment and struggling to meet essential needs. Due to widespread looting after the Category 5 hurricane, she experiences intermittent electricity in her house.
Despite the challenges, Valadez refuses to forgo the tradition of honoring departed loved ones on Day of the Dead, an important Mexican custom. She explains, “It’s very difficult because there’s no work, there’s no income, but I couldn’t let these days go by, because of the people who have left us: my husband and mother.”
Hurricane Otis is recognized as the most powerful recorded hurricane to hit Mexico’s Pacific coast. It gained unforeseen strength, surpassing initial forecasts. Rescue efforts are ongoing as dozens of people remain missing, and the distribution of aid has faced delays. The scarcity of resources has hindered some residents from participating in their usual Day of the Dead gathering at the city’s main cemetery, as they prioritize searching for water, food, and access to electricity for communication.
The main streets are adorned with marigolds, a traditional flower used on altars to guide spirits to their homes. The streets are also filled with rubble from destroyed houses and stores. However, the higher price of marigolds, selling at 200 pesos ($11.41) – four times the usual price – has made them unaffordable for many. Nonetheless, Valadez managed to obtain a few bouquets, which she placed on the floor as a pathway for the spirits of her loved ones to return.
Valadez asserts that her husband and mother are still with her, stating, “For me, they haven’t gone, they’re still with me. Whatever it took, I was going to make an altar.”
($1 = 17.5346 Mexican pesos)
Reporting by Diego Delgado in Acapulco, writing by Laura Gottesdiener, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien
