After Hurricane Otis, there is a chance to rewrite Acapulco’s tale of two cities

The devastation caused by the hurricane offers a opportunity to put right the effects of decades of poor urban planning and social and political conflict

On 25 October, Hurricane Otis, one of the strongest - if not the strongest - storms to hit Mexican harbours, devastated the beach city of Acapulco, leaving an official death toll of at least 48, with dozens more reported missing.

The degree of destruction of the city is unparalleled with that caused by other natural disasters in Mexico. At the moment, the future of Acapulco - once a playground for the international elite and now a place diminished by poor urban planning, corruption and violence - is an open question.