The reconstruction of Acapulco after the devastating passage of Hurricane Otis, which hit the state of Guerrero as a category 5, will require a period of time of no less than five years, according to Francisco Solares, president of the Mexican Chamber of the Construction Industry (CMIC).
We see that it will take several years to have the Acapulco we had a few days ago. We don’t think it will take less than five years’, assured Solares.
Pedro Azcué, executive director of JLL Mexico, pointed out that due to the extensive magnitude of the destruction, the reconstruction process will extend over several years, aggravated by the shortage of labor.
‘Locally there are not enough work crews to fix so much of the problem. Labor will have to be brought in from other places, tourism will not return until there is a normalization of activities’, he anticipated.
Both Solares and Azcué agreed on the importance of receiving support from the Mexican government to address these challenges.
The CEO of JLL Mexico estimated that the investment needed to repair certain properties would range between 8,000 and 10,000 pesos per square meter.
The vast majority of the properties (in Acapulco) were not designed or prepared to withstand a category 5 hurricane,’ he said.
A few days after the catastrophe that left Guerrero, especially the coast of Acapulco, incommunicado, hundreds of inhabitants are doing their best to store all the water and food they have, due to the looting that has been reported. Local establishments, banks and renowned stores have been victims of those seeking to benefit from the tragedy by taking everything from televisions to huge speakers.
