An Intimidating Space View of the Misery-Sowing Hurricane Manuel

Thanks to an ogre of a storm that tore into Mexico on Thursday morning, life is not so sweet in coastal-Pacific cities. The news is rife with terrible things happening in Acapulco, in particular: widespread looting, thousands stranded, up to 80 dead, and CNN notes that on top of that, there's "even a crocodile" on the loose.

That last item would seem to be the least of the problems weighing down the minds of Mexico's citizens. With Hurricane Manuel having lessened yesterday into a tropical depression, damage assessment and clean-up duty is now beginning. That will be a slog for the harder-hit areas, such as the village La Pintada a couple hours out of Acapulco. Inundating rains loosened soil and rocks on a nearby mountain and sent it all cascading down upon the locals; as of last night nearly 60 people were still missing.