Latest advice for stranded holidaymakers in Mexico's Acapulco

  • World
People stand in line while waiting to be airlifted by Mexico's Secretariat of National Defense out of Acapulco yesterday. Credit: REUTERS/Camilo Martinez

To quote the brochure: "Acapulco is famous for endless sunshine and glorious golden sandy beaches".

Sadly the reality right now is that thousands of exhausted travellers are lining up in the mud, relying largely on military personnel and muster points to get out.

Although 40,000 tourists are stranded, the travel trade here tell me the number of Brits involved is "minimal".

Most UK travellers got to Cancun. The travel industry organisation ABTA tells me it knows of no major tour operator with customers in the resort.

Flights have been cancelled at Acapulco airport after incessant rain left vast areas of the international terminal underwater. Credit: APTN

Tourists are being taken to Mexico City by air but very limited flights mean long waits and priority for the elderly and families with young children.

Meanwhile there is flooding, disruption of power and all the discomfort of being in a tropical storm.

The general advice from the Foreign Office, goes like this:

The departure lounge is flooded at Acapulco airport. Credit: APTN

I've also been in contact with the Mexican government who tell us they have opened an "airborne bridge in coordination with Mexican airlines, in order to help tourists evacuate Acapulco".

They have also activated a helpline for tourists.

People get out of their cars and gather near a portion of the road. Credit: REUTERS/Jorge Luis Plata

The hurricane season in Mexico normally runs from June to November affecting both Pacific and Atlantic coasts. And despite all we see today - I'm told hundreds of thousands of tourists from the UK visit the Caribbean in hurricanes season each year.

Read: Details of the storms causing flooding and landslides in Mexico